Road safety Augmented reality offers a safer driving experience Complete with holograms on the winds
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WHILE
WAITING for the traffic lights to change, your correspondent notices a
pair of red warning squares appear on the windscreen.
They follow a couple of pedestrians as they cross the road directly ahead.
WHILE
WAITING for the traffic lights to change, your correspondent notices a
pair of red warning squares appear on the windscreen.
They follow a couple of pedestrians as they cross the road directly ahead.
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This
realistic test is of a head-up display (HUD) produced by Envisics, a
firm based in Milton Keynes, just north of London, and one of the
leaders in “augmented-reality” displays for vehicles.
realistic test is of a head-up display (HUD) produced by Envisics, a
firm based in Milton Keynes, just north of London, and one of the
leaders in “augmented-reality” displays for vehicles.
These work a bit like the virtual-reality headsets worn by computer gamers, except they do not require the user to don any elaborate accessories.
Though
HUDs have been available in some cars since the late 1980s, producing
two-dimensional images on the windscreen directly in the line-of-sight
of the driver, this version has far greater clarity because it is holographic.
HUDs have been available in some cars since the late 1980s, producing
two-dimensional images on the windscreen directly in the line-of-sight
of the driver, this version has far greater clarity because it is holographic.
In
other words, it produces three-dimensional images with height, width
and depth that appear to be part of the view of the road ahead.
other words, it produces three-dimensional images with height, width
and depth that appear to be part of the view of the road ahead.
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Holographic HUDs are likely to represent the future of car design.
Apart
from being able to clearly provide information on navigation and a
vehicle’s performance, moving images that pick out warnings of any
dangers in the road ahead offer a promise of safer, distraction-free
driving.
from being able to clearly provide information on navigation and a
vehicle’s performance, moving images that pick out warnings of any
dangers in the road ahead offer a promise of safer, distraction-free
driving.
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The
very first HUDs were much simpler. In the second world war, some
fighter pilots flying Spitfires benefited from an image of a gunsight
reflected onto a screen in their line of sight.
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very first HUDs were much simpler. In the second world war, some
fighter pilots flying Spitfires benefited from an image of a gunsight
reflected onto a screen in their line of sight.
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HUDs for land-based vehicles have similarly been growing in capability.
They began by simply replicating bits of the dashboard display, such as a speedometer and turn signals.
More
modern versions can make use of a vehicle’s cameras and other sensors
to identify potential hazards, like a cyclist in the road ahead.
modern versions can make use of a vehicle’s cameras and other sensors
to identify potential hazards, like a cyclist in the road ahead.
This
provides visual depth clues which help a driver understand more clearly
what a vehicle’s safety systems have detected, says Xiaoxi He of
IDTechEx, a firm of analysts.
provides visual depth clues which help a driver understand more clearly
what a vehicle’s safety systems have detected, says Xiaoxi He of
IDTechEx, a firm of analysts.
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Displaying
such information directly in front of a driver also reduces the need to
look down and refocus on a touchscreen, which is increasingly seen as a
distraction that can result in accidents, adds Dr He.
such information directly in front of a driver also reduces the need to
look down and refocus on a touchscreen, which is increasingly seen as a
distraction that can result in accidents, adds Dr He.
As
a result, she expects a combination of smart display-features and
enhanced safety will help drive the market for automotive HUDs to over
$10bn by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 24%.
a result, she expects a combination of smart display-features and
enhanced safety will help drive the market for automotive HUDs to over
$10bn by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 24%.
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Envisics,
which has its roots in holographic research carried out at the
University of Cambridge, is backed by companies that include General
Motors (GM), Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover and Stellantis.
which has its roots in holographic research carried out at the
University of Cambridge, is backed by companies that include General
Motors (GM), Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover and Stellantis.
The firm’s new HUD is due to appear later this year in the Cadillac Lyriq, an electric SUV produced by GM.
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The technology itself is cutting-edge.
Earlier
HUDs mainly produced two-dimensional or stereoscopic images using
liquid crystal or LED projectors on the dashboard to create an image
reflected on the windscreen.
HUDs mainly produced two-dimensional or stereoscopic images using
liquid crystal or LED projectors on the dashboard to create an image
reflected on the windscreen.
Envisics’s
new system uses three miniaturised lasers, producing the primary
colours of red, blue and green, controlled by a customised processing
chip and lots of software to produce moving holograms.
new system uses three miniaturised lasers, producing the primary
colours of red, blue and green, controlled by a customised processing
chip and lots of software to produce moving holograms.
This was not easy, says Jamieson Christmas, Envisics’s boss, which is why the system is covered by over 1,000 patents.
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It
will be up to carmakers to choose what kind of information they display
holographically, although there is clearly a limit to what can be
presented on the windscreen.
will be up to carmakers to choose what kind of information they display
holographically, although there is clearly a limit to what can be
presented on the windscreen.
For
one thing, holographic displays could assist with the growing use of
vehicle automation, which is still some way from the widespread adoption
of full “hands-off” autonomy.
one thing, holographic displays could assist with the growing use of
vehicle automation, which is still some way from the widespread adoption
of full “hands-off” autonomy.
Greater
levels of visual information would be better at alerting drivers when
and why they need to take back the wheel while using features like
intelligent cruise-control.
levels of visual information would be better at alerting drivers when
and why they need to take back the wheel while using features like
intelligent cruise-control.
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Talk, don’t touch
Touchscreens could also be enhanced by the use of HUDs.
As more and more controls move from physical switches to cheaper touchscreens, concerns are growing that fiddling around with screen icons and sub-menus can be dangerously distracting.
The
addition of voice-activated controls can help keep a driver’s eyes on
the road, although spoken commands can be misunderstood, which often
results in drivers looking at a touchscreen to find out why.
addition of voice-activated controls can help keep a driver’s eyes on
the road, although spoken commands can be misunderstood, which often
results in drivers looking at a touchscreen to find out why.
That can be avoided if a spoken request is confirmed with a HUD message.
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As
HUDs continue to get smarter, though, there are some in the industry
who wonder if they might one day replace touchscreens altogether.
HUDs continue to get smarter, though, there are some in the industry
who wonder if they might one day replace touchscreens altogether.
Future
motorists, whether or not they need to take the controls at all, might
simply operate their vehicles by engaging with a hologram.
motorists, whether or not they need to take the controls at all, might
simply operate their vehicles by engaging with a hologram.
