Jaguar Land Rover
RELEASE DATE
2024
EXPERTISE
Music Production, Mixing & Haptics Research
COMPANY
Jaguar Land Rover UK
ABOUT
ROLE
Music Composer & Audio Researcher
ABOUT
While representing Coventry University, I had the pleasure of collaborating with two former course colleagues and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on the development of an innovative seat for the new Range Rover Sport SV. This seat, called the Body and Soul Seat (BASS), enhances driver well-being through sensory music energy pulses that help regulate heart rates. It utilizes SUBPAC AI software to create immersive audio experiences, enabling occupants to both hear and feel the sound.
COMPLETED IN THIS PROJECT
-
6 Different Audio Tracks
-
Audio Research & Testing inside a Vehicle
-
Tactile Audio Research
EXPERTISE
-
Music Composition
-
Mixing & Mastering
-
Collaboration with different fields
-
Planning, Goal Setting & Organization
SOFTWARE & EQUIPMENT
-
Ableton Live
-
Subpack
-
PS5 Haptics
-
Other Non-Disclosure Equipment for Compatibility with Car Speakers
PROJECT OVERVIEW
WHAT WAS THE OBJECTIVE?
The idea behind this project was to innovate the concept of a car seat as well as the driving experience of the driver. This innovative seat uses sensory music energy pulses to help reduce heart rates, and with this reach our objective of promoting relaxation and alertness for drivers and front-seat passengers. For this the BASS (Body And Soul Seat) seats were developed.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The new seat powered by Subpac and its AI optimizing performance is incorporated with 4 transducers which generate precise and synchronized vibrations to give life to the audio experience that is archived inside the car. The six music tracks that me and my collegues have developed specificly for this system are claimed to promote wellness and with this, help enhance the occupants’ mental and physiological wellbeing.
.jpg)
THE SEAT
MY APPROACH
For this project, I used Ableton Live to compose my audio tracks but unfortunately, the tracks were constrained by the car's head unit memory so that it couldn’t exceed a minute and a half in length. To work around this limitation, I designed it as a seamless loop, ensuring it could play indefinitely without the listener noticing any transitions. To ensure that the haptic feedback synchronized perfectly with the audio and to test without having the car, I utilized a PS5 controller to manage the relationship between certain frequencies and the tactile response. This approach allowed me to fine-tune the haptics, resulting in a seamless and enjoyable experience that was both pleasant and precise, adding an extra dimension to the music.
Additionally, wellness programs linked to the seat can improve mental and physiological well-being by influencing heart rate variability (HRV), contributing to lower stress levels and enhanced relaxation.
Image: Sensory Audio & Wellness Interface
The BASS incorporates SUBPAC AI software and works with a 29-speaker, 1430W Meridian Signature Sound System to provide an immersive audio experience, allowing occupants to feel the sound as well as hear it. This system analyzes media in real-time to generate high-fidelity audio pulses.
TESTING
In the final testing phase, I tested the audio tracks inside the car using what at the time was the second-only existing prototype of the BASS seat and feedback that was given to us by specific people who had contact with this project and tried it in a real-life scenario and the information gathered allowed me to evaluate how the sound and haptic feedback worked together in the real-world environment. By using the prototype, I could assess how the SubPac audio transistors integrated with the car’s acoustics and fine-tune the feedback to ensure the best possible experience. Based on these tests, I made several adjustments to the haptic response, aligning it with the audio to create a seamless and immersive sensory experience.
CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE?
Click the links below to dive deeper into details about this project!
