Automakers looking to remake their traditional vehicle line-up into autonomous vehicles, Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) considerations for autonomous vehicles are soon to follow. While traditional NVH considerations still must be applied to carry-over systems, additional components are required for an autonomous vehicle to operate. These additional components needed for autonomy also require NVH analysis and optimization. Autonomous vehicles rely on a suite of sensors, including Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and cameras placed at optimal points on the vehicle for maximum coverage and utilization. In this study, the NVH considerations of autonomous vehicles are examined, focusing on the additional perception equipment installed in autonomous vehicles. In particular, the nature of modifications to existing vehicles to increase the level of autonomy, and the associated NVH characteristics of these alterations, are reviewed with suggestions for future application to autonomous vehicles. A case study in the design of an original autonomous vehicle based on a production all-electric car, a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, is outlined. A detailed description of the NVH design and verification process for this vehicle is provided, with results giving insight into the NVH design of autonomous vehicles and the challenges that are created.
