Reality is changing. Technology is enhancing the view that drivers and passengers see when their cars are on the road.
Augmented reality (AR) superimposes digital information on top of what the user sees in the real world, either through glasses or a projected screen. This is unlike virtual reality, which uses a headset to mask the rest of the world, allowing users to see what they’re doing, whether it’s playing a video game or watching a sporting event thousands of miles away. You can completely immerse yourself in it.
Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and more are putting AR in their cars. This technology ranges from an enhanced view on the infotainment touchscreen when navigation is active to a more advanced version of a traditional head-up display.
Head-up displays typically project information such as speed, gear, music tracks, and navigation prompts onto the other side of the windshield, allowing drivers to see and note information without having to take their eyes off the road.
Large and small AR displays are coming. You can now project graphics onto large portions of your window, incorporating real-world objects such as street signs, traffic signs, and driver assistance features.
A few years ago, the battery-electric sport utility vehicle Audi E-Tron (now called the second-generation Audi Q8 E-Tron) overlaid an arrow graphic in the camera’s field of view when the driver approached an intersection. to show you where to turn. Mercedes also offered similar technology to its C-Class sedan around the same time.
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The new Audi Q6 E-tron SUV features an optional augmented reality head-up display that is much larger than a typical display. The same information as the previous screen and camera combination is displayed right in front of the driver.
The display also shows animations informing you of things like speed limit changes when you approach a sign where your speed is changing, rather than the traditional static numerical changes offered by other automakers.
Audi says the forward tilt of the Q6 E-tron’s 88-inch image plane improves the AR experience by matching the natural focus of the human eye. The combination of tilt and large virtual image distance makes the icon appear to be floating up to 200 yards away.
“Due to the greater distance of the image from the driver, there is no need to refocus the eyes between the real environment and the head-up display (HUD) image. This is the biggest advantage of a HUD compared to a dashboard display. “This is also a huge advantage for people who wear corrective lenses,” an Audi spokesperson told Newsweek.
Entertainment options have also migrated to Audi’s HUD. “While parking, drivers can also use the HUD to play games, for example while waiting for their vehicle to be charged at a DC fast charger location.In the future, additional entertainment tools will also be available. As you might imagine, the spokesperson said.
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BMW is expanding the user experience with new versions of its vehicles, the production version of which will be showcased at CES 2025. This system displays the display across the entire width of the windshield, including the occupants. This system is complemented by a dark screen with bright graphics that displays basic information on the lower edge of the windshield.
“With the new BMW Panoramic Vision, the windshield becomes one big display, opening up completely new possibilities for vehicle design. Please read the entire content, whether or not you want to be able to view it,” Frank Weber, Member of the Development Board of BMW AG, said in a press release.
“Innovative projections and a more clearly structured cockpit give a striking new feel to space and driving. “We’re raising it to the next level,” he said.
In 2021, Mercedes unveiled an augmented reality head-up display for the first time in its S-Class luxury sedan. The graphics projection equates to a 77-inch screen and integrates eye-tracking technology to keep icons within the driver’s field of vision. Currently available for S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, EQS Sedan and SUV.
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“Augmented Reality Heads-Up Windshield (AR HUD) increases safety by projecting critical information directly onto the windshield, reducing the need for drivers to take their eyes off the road. It also improves navigation with real-time overlays. “Warnings are displayed within the driver’s line of sight, making driving more intuitive and less distracting,” a Mercedes spokesperson told Newsweek. told the magazine.
Looking ahead, the company is experimenting with augmented reality glasses to provide a new driving experience. The company wants to take a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) approach, allowing customers to bring their own equipment “to suit their vision and ecosystem.” The company says easier integration and links with vehicle sensors and actuators could create new opportunities for entertainment, health and comfort in addition to safety.
Mercedes also wants to use augmented reality glasses for an immersive virtual brand experience. This allows for interaction with the vehicle and customization for potential buyers. The new Mercedes-Benz Mixed Reality configurator uses a real-time game engine and Apple Vision Pro.
“The first use case will focus on passenger infotainment (4D movie experience, wellness, energizing comfort, POI, etc.), followed by driver-related use cases (navigation, assistance, etc.) .We have AR glasses for our infotainment. Expanding the system and providing customers with an enhanced visual experience, this device opens new and more flexible possibilities for vehicle interior design, as all basic functions can be accessed without the use of glass. ” he said.
Audi is also researching mixed reality and augmented reality glasses. Its Activesphere concept incorporates mixed reality headsets for both driver and passenger. Audi explained that users can display virtual static content that becomes interactive when the driver or passenger interacts with it using gestures.
“Of course, the Activesphere concept is also designed for autonomous driving, allowing for easier interaction with the driver (i.e. the driver does not need to pay 100% of his attention to the road). , feels the augmented reality HUD. It is the best solution for today’s drivers as a way to safely engage in the driving process while offering the added benefit of additional driving information,” said an Audi spokesperson. said.
