Investigating perceptual discrimination thresholds for attributes of whole-body vibration Berkay Kullukcu, Jonas Krautwurm, Sebastian Merchel, Robert Rosenkranz, Ercan Altinsoy Scientific Reports, 2026 Understanding the limitations of haptic perception in humans is critical for the successful design of effective haptic feedback systems, however, it is unclear how perceived discrimination thresholds relate to specific qualitative perceptual attributes. In this work, it was aimed to estimate quantitative perceptual discrimination thresholds for six qualitative attributes of whole-body vibration, which included “weak”, “up-and-down”, “tingling”, “repetitive”, “even”, and “fading”. A series of experiments were conducted using a multimodal vibration platform and an electrodynamic shaker, where participants performed a magnitude estimation task that systematically varied physical parameters (intensity, frequency, modulation, decay rate) from reference measures to assess perceived discrimination thresholds, testing each attribute separately. Unique and attribute-specific relationships between physical parameters and perceptual insights were found. Key findings include a consistent just-noticable difference in level threshold ( $$JNDL_{\\pm }$$ ) of $$\\le$$ 2 dB for the “weak” attribute, a lower frequency threshold ( $$JNDF_-$$ ) between 10 - 20 Hz for “tingling” (at a 120 Hz reference) and $$\\le$$ 5 Hz (at a 30 Hz reference) for “up-and-down”, a lower modulation frequency threshold ( $$JNDF_-$$ ) between 0.2 - 0.4 Hz for “repetitive” (at a 2.4 Hz reference), a lower bandwidth threshold ( $$JNDF_-$$ ) between 1 - 2 Hz for “even” (at a 3 Hz reference), and a threshold ( $$JND_+$$ ) of $$\\le$$ 0.5 for the decay rate $$\\delta$$ (at a 0.5 reference) for “fading”. The findings represent quantitative evidence to establish a framework for relating specific physical signal parameters to qualitative perceptual attributes and also inform the design of perceptually aligned haptic systems that match haptic feedback to human sensory limits.
Electric Truck Sound Design: A User-Centered Psychoacoustic Approach to Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems Berkay Kullukcu, Robert Rosenkranz, Ercan Altinsoy AES Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, 2025 Electric vehicles (EVs), especially trucks, are becoming more common and present a distinct acoustic challenge compared with typical internal combustion engine vehicles. Their silent functioning poses a safety concern to pedestrians. This study seeks to provide a user-centered and psychoacoustically informed design methodology for acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS), especially for electric trucks. Building on the preliminary findings of a semantic differential analysis that compared the perceived sound characteristics of internal combustion engine vehicles and EVs with and without AVAS, the study describes a design methodology. The procedure used in the study incorporates qualitative methods, such as open-ended surveys and jury tests, and quantitative methods incorporating psychoacoustical components. The emphasis is on balancing the intended “electric” and “truck-like” sound characteristics. The work describes a unique design method for user-centered and psychoacoustically informed AVAS for EVs that contributes to the expanding work to develop effective and user-friendly solutions for improving electric truck AVAS perception in urban contexts.
Designing Effective Warning Sounds: Psychoacoustical Considerations Berkay KULLUKCU, Jin Wook LEE, Serkan ATAMER, Ercan ALTINSOY 53rd International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering Internoise 2024, 2024 Warning sounds are designed to get attention and prompt immediate action in dangerous situations. This paper examines the psychoacoustical factors that affect the effectiveness of warning sounds by looking at urgency perception and annoyance. Two listening tests were conducted, each designed to investigate the effects of different parameters on warning sound perception. For the first set of tests, three parameters were manipulated: predominant frequency component, wave shape, and roughness perception. The second trial looked at the influences of frequency, specifications in the German standards (DIN) for the warning sounds, effect of pulse rates, and musical tones. The results of the study demonstrate the importance of carefully considering psychoacoustical factors when designing warning sounds to ensure they are effective in alerting individuals to potential hazards.
Investigating perceptual discrimination thresholds for attributes of whole-body vibration B Kullukcu, J Krautwurm, S Merchel, R Rosenkranz, E Altinsoy Scientific Reports 16 (1), 7168 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
SIAMIS: Experimental Study on the Acoustic Behavior of Bolted Joints under Varying Tightening Torques B Kullukcu, R Kamenzky, D Hannebauer Tagungsband/Proceedings" Fortschritte der Akustik-DAGA 2026", 642-645 , 2026 2026
Discrimination of Vibration through Perceptual Attributes: A Just Noticeable Difference (JND) Analysis B Kullukcu, J Krautwurm, S Merchel, R Rosenkranz, E Altinsoy 2025
Electric Truck Sound Design: A User-Centered Psychoacoustic Approach to Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems B Kullukcu, R Rosenkranz, E Altinsoy JOURNAL OF THE AUDIO ENGINEERING SOCIETY 73 (4) , 2025 2025
Electric Truck Sound Design B Kullukcu, R Rosenkranz, E Altinsoy JOURNAL OF THE AUDIO ENGINEERING SOCIETY 73 (4) , 2025 2025
Experimental Determination of the Masking Threshold in Electric Trucks B Kullukcu, O Zeidler, S Atamer, ME Altinsoy DAGA 2025, Copenhagen , 2025 2025
PSYCHOACOUSTIC MODELLING OF AVAS SOUNDS: CONSUMER-CENTRIC SEMANTIC ATTRIBUTE DEVELOPMENT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES B Kullukcu, M Engel, S Atamer, E Altinsoy Forum Acusticum 2025 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Designing effective warning sounds: psychoacoustical considerations B Kullukcu, JW Lee, S Atamer, E Altinsoy INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings 270 (10), 1008 … , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) for Electric Trucks: Initial Thoughts for the Requirements B Kullukcu, R Rosenkranz, ME Altinsoy 2024 Citations: 3
A CONNECTOR SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR RESPIRATORY SUPPORT DEVICES B Ataseven, B Kullukcu, U Gunay TR Patent TR2022007778A1 , 2023 2023
DETECTING DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR INFUSION PUMPS B Ataseven, B Kullukcu, U Gunay TR Patent TR2,022,007,637 Y , 2023 2023
Piezoelectric PVDF-TrFE/PET Energy Harvesters for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Applications B Kullukçu, MJ Bathaei, M Awais, H Mirzajani, L Beker Integrated Ferroelectrics 237 (1), 216-231 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
MOMENTUM NASOGASTRIC TUBE SYSTEM B Ataseven, B Kullukcu, U Gunay TR Patent TR2022001302A1 , 2023 2023
AN INVASIVE DEVICE B Ataseven, B Kullukcu, U Gunay TR Patent TR2021015887A1 , 2023 2023
Design and modeling of a PVDF-TrFe flexible wind energy harvester B Kullukcu, L Beker Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences 31 (2), 312-322 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
A DEVICE FOR DETECTION OF VASCULAR ACCESS DISLODGEMENTS AND NOTIFICATION OF THE AUTHORIZED PERSON U GUNAY, B KULLUKÇU, B ATASEVEN WO Patent WO2022/071910A1 , 2022 2022
Flexible PVDF-TrFe piezoelectric energy harvesters for structural health monitoring applications in wind turbines B KULLUKÇU Koc University , 2022 2022
Modeling miniaturized piezoelectric ultrasound transducers: comparison of lumped and finite element models PT Ziarati, B Kullukçu, L Beker 2020 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS), 1-4 , 2020 2020 Citations: 12
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Modeling miniaturized piezoelectric ultrasound transducers: comparison of lumped and finite element models PT Ziarati, B Kullukçu, L Beker 2020 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS), 1-4 , 2020 2020 Citations: 12
Designing effective warning sounds: psychoacoustical considerations B Kullukcu, JW Lee, S Atamer, E Altinsoy INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings 270 (10), 1008 … , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) for Electric Trucks: Initial Thoughts for the Requirements B Kullukcu, R Rosenkranz, ME Altinsoy 2024 Citations: 3
Piezoelectric PVDF-TrFE/PET Energy Harvesters for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Applications B Kullukçu, MJ Bathaei, M Awais, H Mirzajani, L Beker Integrated Ferroelectrics 237 (1), 216-231 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
PSYCHOACOUSTIC MODELLING OF AVAS SOUNDS: CONSUMER-CENTRIC SEMANTIC ATTRIBUTE DEVELOPMENT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES B Kullukcu, M Engel, S Atamer, E Altinsoy Forum Acusticum 2025 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Investigating perceptual discrimination thresholds for attributes of whole-body vibration B Kullukcu, J Krautwurm, S Merchel, R Rosenkranz, E Altinsoy Scientific Reports 16 (1), 7168 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Design and modeling of a PVDF-TrFe flexible wind energy harvester B Kullukcu, L Beker Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences 31 (2), 312-322 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
SIAMIS: Experimental Study on the Acoustic Behavior of Bolted Joints under Varying Tightening Torques B Kullukcu, R Kamenzky, D Hannebauer Tagungsband/Proceedings" Fortschritte der Akustik-DAGA 2026", 642-645 , 2026 2026
Discrimination of Vibration through Perceptual Attributes: A Just Noticeable Difference (JND) Analysis B Kullukcu, J Krautwurm, S Merchel, R Rosenkranz, E Altinsoy 2025
Electric Truck Sound Design: A User-Centered Psychoacoustic Approach to Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems B Kullukcu, R Rosenkranz, E Altinsoy JOURNAL OF THE AUDIO ENGINEERING SOCIETY 73 (4) , 2025 2025
Electric Truck Sound Design B Kullukcu, R Rosenkranz, E Altinsoy JOURNAL OF THE AUDIO ENGINEERING SOCIETY 73 (4) , 2025 2025
Experimental Determination of the Masking Threshold in Electric Trucks B Kullukcu, O Zeidler, S Atamer, ME Altinsoy DAGA 2025, Copenhagen , 2025 2025
A CONNECTOR SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR RESPIRATORY SUPPORT DEVICES B Ataseven, B Kullukcu, U Gunay TR Patent TR2022007778A1 , 2023 2023
DETECTING DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR INFUSION PUMPS B Ataseven, B Kullukcu, U Gunay TR Patent TR2,022,007,637 Y , 2023 2023
MOMENTUM NASOGASTRIC TUBE SYSTEM B Ataseven, B Kullukcu, U Gunay TR Patent TR2022001302A1 , 2023 2023
AN INVASIVE DEVICE B Ataseven, B Kullukcu, U Gunay TR Patent TR2021015887A1 , 2023 2023
A DEVICE FOR DETECTION OF VASCULAR ACCESS DISLODGEMENTS AND NOTIFICATION OF THE AUTHORIZED PERSON U GUNAY, B KULLUKÇU, B ATASEVEN WO Patent WO2022/071910A1 , 2022 2022
Flexible PVDF-TrFe piezoelectric energy harvesters for structural health monitoring applications in wind turbines B KULLUKÇU Koc University , 2022 2022
