Vehicle notification apparatus, vehicle notification method, and vehicle notification system

A vehicle notification method executed by a computer of a vehicle notification apparatus, the vehicle notification method comprising:

• an object detection step of detecting an object around a vehicle;
• a recognition step of recognizing, when an object is detected in the object detection step, a direction of the object;
• an alarm control step of controlling a notification unit disposed in a vehicle cabin, and outputting an alarm sound that forms a sound image direction substantially aligned with the direction of the object recognized in the recognition step;
• and
• a notification control step capable of outputting a notification sound that forms a sound image in a predetermined direction when no object is detected in the object detection step, and outputting a face direction instruction that instructs an occupant to turn the face in the sound image direction of the notification sound during the output of the notification sound.

A vehicle notification system comprising:

• an object detection unit that detects an object around a vehicle;
• a recognition unit that recognizes, when an object is detected by the object detection unit, a direction of the object;
• an alarm control unit that controls a notification unit disposed in a vehicle cabin, and outputs an alarm sound that forms a sound image direction substantially aligned with the direction of the object recognized by the recognition unit;
• and
• a notification control unit capable of outputting a notification sound that forms a sound image in a predetermined direction when no object is detected by the object detection unit, and outputting a face direction instruction that instructs an occupant to turn the face in the sound image direction of the notification sound during the output of the notification sound.