The world of auto electronics is developing at a rapid pace. Every year, new devices appear to increase engine power, optimize suspension performance, improve fuel efficiency or improve occupants.
Some electronic novelties very quickly prove the appropriateness of their presence in the car, after which they quickly become a standard attribute of a complete set of models descending from the assembly lines. Such devices include wireless connection, cruise control systems, etc. At the same time, there is a whole class of other electronic devices that continue to be considered promising for many years after the invention. They undergo endless improvements, defend their "place in the sun" with the help of the opinions of authoritative experts, they are even installed on the conveyors of individual brands, but they still cannot boast of real people's "love". Among motorists, such devices are usually called "autoexotics". bright representative groups are systems for projecting information on the windshield.
Development history
The first data projection systems on the windshield appeared in military aviation. Almost simultaneously, the technology for displaying information on the cockpit glazing was used by Soviet and American aircraft designers in the 70s of the last century. In the USSR, the system was called HUD (indication on the windshield), in the USA - HUD (Head-Up-Display - display for a raised head).
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The development pursued the goal of maximizing the concentration of the pilot's attention on the air situation by eliminating the need to distract his gaze from the instrument readings. Engineers General Motors"peeped" the idea and transferred it to automotive field, resulting in the introduction of the first HUD projector on the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in 1988. Only 14 years later, a similar device appeared on another GM car - the prestigious Chevrolet Corvette. In Europe, BMW pioneered the use of projection systems. Work to expand the functionality of the HUD is currently being carried out by Volvo and Audi engineers. The highest activity in the development of a new direction was shown by the Japanese: since 1989, the company nissan start complete with projection systems individual models on the conveyor. Over time and others Japanese manufacturers recognized the need to equip cars with a HUD system, so today almost all the cars they produce for domestic market, have this option.
Principle of operation and output information
The executive device (or projector) forms an information picture on its screen and transfers it to a transparent film located on the windshield. The projector can receive service information from the on-board computer, navigator, form it independently according to GPS data, etc. Most models have the ability to reproduce speech information or issue sound warnings.
(click to enlarge)
Unlike aviation systems, where a large amount of information can be displayed in the pilot's field of view, car projectors today have a rather meager set of displayed parameters. These include:
- vehicle speed;
- engine speed;
- coolant temperature;
- number of the selected transmission gear;
- on-board network voltage and battery charge level;
- indications of the parking control system;
- pictograms of control lamps and data of the navigator.
Relevance of development. Prospects and problems
There is a certain innovation and rational grain in the attempts of manufacturers to accustom motorists to the simple perception of on-board information from the windshield. The basic idea is similar to the one that was solved in aviation: the driver's attention should not be distracted from the traffic situation, and this really increases the safety of all road users. System developers are trying to improve the functionality and capabilities of the HUD, they promise that soon the image will move across the windshield, following the direction of the driver's gaze. For this, they plan to use portable cameras and lasers. And the total computerization of onboard equipment allows you to build enough complex algorithms output of a large amount of information, taking into account the needs of a particular driver.But the projection system also has serious disadvantages that do not allow it to acquire the status standard equipment for each production model.Such disadvantages include the high cost of the original device, the limited output parameters and the dependence of image quality on the state of the windshield. Studies conducted in some countries have also shown a significant decrease in attentiveness among drivers of older age groups when information from the projector appears on the windshield. That is, there is a large group of drivers who, due to age-related conservatism, cannot and do not want to get used to the appearance of any images on the windshield. If for some reason you do not want or due to circumstances you cannot overtake your car on your own, contact
What to expect in the coming years? Why and how will your car become smart? In what direction will it develop automotive industry? What technologies are already available and what are waiting for you?
A lot of things can change in just one decade. For example every 5 years computer equipment is very outdated. True, we are still far from technology like in the Star Wars movie.
Let's start. For example, if you are reading this text, then you have access to the Internet. And if you go back, for example, in 1995, the Internet was available to a very small circle of people, however, like a computer. But since then things have changed dramatically. Now you can access the Internet with phone, player, choose a provider that is more suitable for your needs and financial capabilities, and so on.
It's the same with cars, where even the Chinese have managed to introduce the new Android system into their car. By the way, earlier to meet such a number of airbags in the most different options (lateral, protecting the knees etc.) was impossible on any machine.
Electric cars could only be found on the golf courses. Cars are also changing, and the rate of adoption of new technologies will only increase every year.
Internet and car?
OnStar
It is possible to slow down transport remotely, preventing the hijackers from escaping from the police while chasing. Now there is a new feature that will help you recover stolen cars in hours, if not minutes.
The new technology is called Remote Ignition Block ( remote ignition lock). The OnStar operator has the ability to send a signal to the computer in the stolen car that will cause the ignition system to lock out and prevent it from restarting.
"This feature will not only help the authorities recover stolen cars, but also prevent dangerous car chases."
Holographic information displays
Similar systems can be seen at or. The bottom line is to display information directly on the windshield. Now there are operating models that can display information about speed, direction of movement, and more. And in the near future we will be able to navigate the road without even seeing it. For example, General Motors has already taken the first steps in this direction.
Now General Motors, in collaboration with a number of universities, has begun to develop the so-called "smart glass". GM hopes to turn the glass into a transparent display that can display information such as road markings, road signs or various objects such as pedestrians, which in fog or rain can be very problematic to recognize on the road.
Partially, this technology was shown on Light Car, where using LED technology LED, the car uses a transparent tailgate as a projection screen, for visible communication between cars, which is very useful for all motorists. For example, with what force the driver presses the brakes, you can show the car that is driving behind when the scale of the picture on the display is illuminated.
Communication of your car not only with other cars, but also with the infrastructure!
Soon all cars will be connected with each other and the road structure into a single whole, into a single network, which already has its own name - "car-to-X communication". Today, several companies, including Audi, have begun to create it. The essence of development is to make it possible "communication" of your car not only with other cars, but also with infrastructure, such as webcams at intersections, traffic lights or traffic signs.
Knowing about the state of traffic lights, traffic congestion and road conditions , the machine can save energy by preventing the driver from unnecessary acceleration/deceleration. The machine can even reserve a parking space. If the car is in an emergency situation, it will be able to inform the surrounding cars so that other drivers can slow down in time and avoid a collision.
Audi showcases some of these innovations with an example E-tron
https://www.youtube.com/v/iRDRbLVTFrQ
Security Improvement
Speaking about technologies that can improve the security situation, developers see one of the main tasks in "keep" us on the same lane or even on the road in especially difficult cases .
Improved engine start system
In fact, such systems are not a matter of tomorrow, but of today. But it is impossible not to say about them, since they are one of the elements of the very efficiency of resource use. It's about about the system auto start or engine stop.
Such solutions can already be observed on almost everyone: when it stops, the engines turn off; to start off, you do not need to start the engine again, but just press the gas pedal. And if we talk about the future of this technology, then it can eventually be tightly integrated with the car-to-X system, to further reduce fuel consumption. For example, given the information that a traffic light at an intersection has turned red, the car can turn off the main engine and continue driving on the electric motor only, thereby saving some energy.
Autopilot or precise cruise control
Brake assistance systems via vehicle-mounted echo sounders/lasers or radars have already become a standard option installed in expensive cars. But, like other developments that first appeared in cars of the upper price range, this one will also soon migrate to a cheaper segment.
This kind of technology, which able to avoid collision with the vehicle in front, can help in traffic safety and is useful mainly to novice drivers, so its appearance will be very useful. If manufacturers continue to improve this technology, and it will, we may soon see something similar to autopilot.
“Our goal for 2020 is that no one gets hurt by Volvo cars”, says senior security adviser Thomas Berger, speaking of new pedestrian detection system in .
Motion monitoring or "Dead Zones"
Two more, no doubt. the right technologies that can help improve the security situation is the monitoring of the so-called "dead zones" and lane crossing warning system. For example, the new system, which is planned to be installed in cars starting in 2011, combines these two technologies. The system will not only be able to warn the driver if he without a turn signal will start rebuilding to the adjacent lane, but prevent rebuilding if the lane is occupied by another vehicle. Naturally, Infiniti won't be the only car where we'll see this kind of technology.
The so-called "blind zone". Companies such as BMW, Ford, GM, Mazda and Volvo offer special systems who use cameras or sensors built into the mirrors controlling dead zones. small light bulbs alarm, installed next to the rear-view mirrors, warn the driver that the car is in the dead zone, and if there is no reaction from the driver and he starts rebuilding, the system is accepted more than a Actively warn of interference by making sounds, or, depending on the brand, begins steering wheel vibration. The downside is that such systems only work at low speeds.
Cross Traffic Alert System: this is a radar that operates on the basis of a monitoring system for "dead zones". The system is able to detect the movement of vehicles in a cross direction while driving in reverse . Cross Traffic Alert is able to determine the approach of a car at a distance of 19.8 meters from both the left and right sides, where special radars are installed. AT this moment this feature is available on Ford vehicles and Lincoln.
Crossing the road markings
Several companies, including Audi, BMW, Ford, Infiniti, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Volvo, offer similar solutions. The system uses small road marking cameras, and if you cross it without turning on the turn signal, the system gives a warning sign. Depending on the system, this may be Sound or light signals, steering wheel vibration, or slight belt tension. For example, Infiniti uses automatic braking
on one side of the car to prevent the vehicle from leaving the lane.
parking
The day is not far off when cars will be able to drive without human assistance. I set the desired destination, and you sit to yourself, sip coffee and look through the morning press. But while this day has not yet come, and many automakers are beginning to slowly prepare us for this. For example, many companies are already installing automated parking assistance systems. Such systems operate as follows: the car uses radar to determine whether there is enough space to park. Further, it helps the driver to choose the correct steering angle and practically puts the car into the parking space himself. Of course, so far it cannot do without human help, but very soon such systems will appear in which human participation will not be necessary at all. You can get out of the car and watch the whole process from the side.
Driver status tracking: a tired driver can be just as dangerous as a driver drunk driving(and you need to drink that in the norm of the law).
Vehicle-integrated tracking systems that recognize signs of fatigue in the movements and reactions of the driver and warn of the need for a break, are available from several car manufacturers. These are Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Saab and Volvo. For example, in Mercedes, such a system is called Attention Assist: it first learns the driving style, in particular rotation of the steering wheel rim, turning on the direction indicators and pressing the pedals, and also monitors some control actions of the driver and such external factors such as crosswinds and uneven road surfaces. If Attention Assist recognizes that the driver is tired, it informs them to stop for a short rest. Attention Assist does this with an audible signal and a warning message in the instrument cluster display.
AT Volvo cars there is also a similar system, but it works a little differently. The system does not control the behavior of the driver, but evaluates the movement of the car on the road. If something goes wrong, the system alerts the driver before the situation becomes critical.
Night vision cameras
Night vision systems can help reduce traffic accidents at night time. Currently offered by companies such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi in the new A8. Such systems can help the driver to see pedestrians, animals or better see road signs at night. BMW uses this for this. infrared camera, which sends the image to the monitor in black and white. The camera distinguishes objects at a distance of up to 300 meters. infrared Mercedes-Benz system has more short range, but is capable of delivering more sharp image, however, its disadvantage is bad job at low temperatures.
And Toyota engineers have been working lately to improve night vision systems that can help drivers navigate more confidently at night. They recently unveiled a prototype camera based on algorithms and imaging principles discovered by studying the functioning of the eyes of nocturnal beetles, bees and moths, which can see in a wider range of colors, and is also adapted to more fully capture light that is not so much in the darkness of the night. The new digital image processing algorithm can capture high quality full color images in low light conditions from a moving on the high speeds car. Plus, the camera is able to automatically adapt to changes in light levels.
Demonstration of the operation of a thermal imager - a night vision camera for a car
https://www.youtube.com/v/ghzyW0HaXMs
Seat belts
Last year, Ford introduced the world's first seat belts with inflatable pillows
. According to the developers, this system will significantly increase the protection of rear seat passengers, and especially young children, who are more likely than adults to be injured in an accident. Integrated seat belt airbag inflates in 40 milliseconds. It is planned that similar Ford belts will equip Explorer 2011 models model year, but only for rear passengers. In the future, similar systems will be extended to other automakers.
https://www.youtube.com/v/MN5htEaRk4A
Hybrids and electrics
Recently, almost all automakers, both large and small, are trying to achieve greater efficiency , or coefficient useful action, from powertrains, while relying on new fuels and engines, trying to reduce consumption and increase average mileage per charge/filling. Already today we can observe a large number of mass-produced, and almost every automaker has a hybrid car in its portfolio. In the next decade, there will only be more of them.
Wireless battery charging
In connection with the forthcoming distribution of cars on rechargeable batteries the question of their problem-free, and most importantly, fast reload. Of course, you can unwind the extension cord with the plug from the car and connect it to a regular outlet. But this is not available to everyone.
It is difficult to imagine a city dweller pulling a plug to the sixth floor. Or the option with free sockets on the streets looks absolutely futuristic. Another option, which seems not so fantastic, is induction chargers. In addition, the technology is already being tested on smaller devices such as iPods and mobile phones. These kinds of chargers could be built into parking spaces in large stores, for example.
Active aerodynamics
Despite the fact that all automakers have long been using wind tunnels, and in this aspect there is room for improvement.
For example, BMW, in its BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics concept car, has already successfully used systems air intake controls. Depending on the driving conditions and the outside air temperature, the dampers in front of the radiator are opened or closed by a signal from the system. If they are closed, this improves aerodynamics and reduces engine warm-up time, thereby reducing fuel consumption. Naturally, BMW is not the only company using this technology.
KERS - regenerative braking
This is a type of electric braking, in which the electricity generated by traction motors operating in generator mode is returned to the electrical network.
Only in the 2009 season in "" on some fireballs the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) is used. It was expected that this would spur developments in the field hybrid cars and further improvements to this system.
As you know, Ferrari introduced a hybrid coupe based on the 599th model, with KERS system.
Cars of the future
2057 year. Limited space city streets and vertical architecture require the automotive industry to create newest cars who can survive in urban jungle and arrange vertical races. Automakers find innovative solutions in biomimicry, where four nano-laser wheels easily adapt to any track.
held together by magnetic fields), which can be restored to its shape with a single click on the alarm key fob or inside the car. The driver will be able to choose the type of car body from several possible “pre-installed” skins. The choice of car color is simply unlimited - a dream for girls who choose their car to match the color of their favorite lipstick.
Magnetic fields will help the concept instantly regenerate after being hit. SilverFlow restores its original form with a simple "reload". The appearance of gold areas will inform about the completion of the "transformation" and the readiness of the car for the trip.
The transfer of mechanical energy to the wheels, according to Mercedes, is transmitted by a special liquid, the molecules of which are set in motion by electrostatic nanomotors. Four swivel wheels allow the car to turn on the spot and park sideways. You won’t find a steering wheel and usual pedals in SilverFlow, acceleration and direction of movement will be set by two levers mounted on the sides of the driver’s seat.
Honda Zeppelin
This Honda, was created by a student who studied at the Department of Automobile Design at Hongik University, which is located in Korea.
Sequence GT
Top news of the week
Car navigation using HUD is a “display for viewing without turning your head”, it would seem that for a long time this idea has been asking for large masses just like a registrar and navigator, but somehow this method of providing information to the driver is not particularly visible. Look here...
When using car gauges and displays, there is always the following problem: on the one hand, the driver should take his eyes off the road as little as possible for safety reasons, on the other hand, if you do not look at the gauges at all, you can miss warning information, such as low oil pressure and etc. There are ways to solve this problem, such as giving sound signals, placing devices always in sight, but the most advanced method today is the display of information on the windshield (head up display or HUD).
This technology was originally used in aviation, when designers were faced with the need to place up to 100 warning indicators in the cockpit of a fighter.
For example, Garmin has released a gadget that projects commands for driving a car onto the windshield, receiving data from a navigator program in a smartphone, according to the company's official blog. HUD technology implemented in the new Garmin portable projector
A Garmin portable projector mounts on the front of a car and projects an image onto a transparent film taped to the windshield. You can also use reflective lenses mounted on the windshield. The output information is obtained from a Bluetooth-connected smartphone running the Garmin StreetPilot or NAVIGON navigation software.
The HUD gadget is compatible with iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Listed price is $129.99.
Since navigation information is displayed directly in the driver's field of vision, the Garmin gadget was called the "Head-up Display" (HUD) - "display for viewing without turning the head." “Until now, such systems were installed only in certain brands of cars. executive class. Garmin is bringing technology to the consumer market,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of sales.
The screen displays information about the permissible directions of movement, the distance to the next turn to the target, the current speed and its limit, the time of the expected arrival.
Tips are also given about the width of the road after the turn, warnings about exceeding the speed limit. The HUD gadget can also report possible traffic delays due to traffic jams, as well as approaching the location of security cameras.
The brightness of the output image is automatically adjusted according to the ambient light. This allows you to get a clearly visible picture in bright sunlight and at night. Accompanying voice comments are played through the smartphone's speakers or the on-board stereo system. The gadget does not interrupt work when phone calls are received on the smartphone, which are processed in hands-free mode.
And here it is in 2012 German company MicroVision, a developer of laser projectors, has signed a contract with a Japanese corporation that allows the use of head-up display (HUD) technology, represented by the PicoP product. German manufacturer, on the automotive market. Pioneer now says it is the first manufacturer of navigation devices in history to use this technology. In Japan, a futuristic "head-on navigator" appeared as early as 2012. The price for it was at least $500.
Masanori Kurosaki, Head of Pioneer's Automotive Electronics Division, stressed the importance of the deal between the Japanese corporation and the German firm in a press release: “We are pleased to note that we have been able to formalize our partnership with MicroVision to manufacture, distribute and sell PicoP green laser technology. ".
The screen of the new navigator is a transparent plastic sheet that is placed on the windshield opposite the driver and displays information from the GPS device. Now you can follow the satellite map without being distracted from driving. For safety reasons, the system is made as easy to use as possible. Only the most necessary information gets on the transparent monitor. For its projection, the device uses a high-contrast green laser. Engineers promise that the image obtained with its help can be seen day and night.
Currently, methods are being developed to determine exactly where the driver’s gaze is directed at each moment of time, and to project necessary information using the HUD to exactly that point on the windshield. The method involves the use of a portable video camera and a laser. The laser beam reflects off the cornea of the driver's eye, which makes it possible to determine exactly where the driver is looking. Probably, the driver's eye movement detector will be used to determine whether the driver is napping. When deviations are detected, an alarm signal will be given, sound or light.
Promising means of displaying information. With the continued computerization of all automotive systems, more and more functions are becoming available. Already today it is possible to regulate the flow of information to the driver, i.e., on the same display, display various data that the driver needs at this particular time. What kind of information the driver needs in this situation is determined by the computer software, but the driver can call the data blocks he needs on the display and independently. For example, if the coolant temperature is normal, there is no need to display readings, unless the driver himself wants to do this. If the display shows the distance that the car can travel with the available fuel, there is no need to show the amount of fuel in the tank, etc.
The computer can, if necessary, interrupt the normal process of outputting information and generate a warning message on the display such as: "only 50 km of fuel left" or "pressure in the left rear tire has dropped." The use of speech synthesizer programs makes it possible to make such messages by voice, and the driver, when configuring the system, can set the desired voice parameters: male or female, high or low, etc. Simpler sound signals are also used to attract the driver's attention.
Here is another option
A holographic image is a three-dimensional representation of a real object, using laser emitters - projectors and a suitable screen. Currently, research and development of equipment is being carried out in order to improve the safety of driving at night. One of the options is as follows: information is taken from infrared video cameras, processed, a holographic image is projected onto the windshield in front of the driver. By using this kind of night vision device, driving at night is simplified.
But, as it turned out, the electronics in the car not only helps, but also interferes. Studies conducted in a group of drivers over the age of 60 have shown that using an electronic map greatly distracts the driver from the road. The reaction of an elderly driver who is forced to be distracted by telematics while driving is reduced by 30-100 percent compared to his 18-30-year-old colleagues.
At the moment, the distribution of such a display system is minimal, but by 2020 the percentage of cars equipped with a HUD could grow to 9 percent. At the moment, it is holding back the development of such a system, like most innovative solutions, only the high cost of execution. Although it seems to me that the price has already come close to the cost of popular DVRs and navigators.
Does anyone already use this type of device? Share your experience...
And we will wait for the technology to rush further and we will observe all this information directly on the windshield without additional devices in an interactive mode.
Below we provide an example of already working navigation using the HUD projector.
Pioneer SPX-HUD01 Head-up display NavGate HUD
Projector Pioneer NavGate SPX-HUD01- it's completely A New Look on modern auto-navigation, a revolutionary step in the development of navigation devices for cars. After the appearance of projectors of this type on the modern electronics market (Garmin also released a similar device before Pioneer), car navigation entered a new stage of development, becoming much more convenient and functional. It is assumed that motorists who are accustomed to using the maximum of opportunities will want to order and buy such a gadget in their car. modern technology and giving preference to the most advanced and innovative devices.
Projector NavGate SPX-HUD01- it's innovative electronic device from the Japanese company Pioneer, used for car navigation using a smartphone. The abbreviation HUD in the name of this electronic gadget stands for "head-up display".
This unit is equipped with a unique DLP projector that mounts to an overhead driver's seat sun visor. This projector projects up-to-date information about the movement of the car, as well as its route, onto a virtual 30-inch screen located in front of the windshield of the car, three meters from it, slightly above the horizon line. The use of this electronic device allows the driver to control the location of his car, as well as follow the route without being distracted from the road. This solution makes car navigation more convenient and safe and allows the driver to constantly monitor the situation on the road, learn about nearby sights, plot a route and use all other features of modern car navigation. In addition, the virtual display provides current time data, traffic light warnings, information about the current speed of the car, its restrictions on this section of the route, the distance to the final destination, as well as the estimated time of arrival.
The use of a DLP projector in this device, which creates a high-contrast image with rich, deep colors on a virtual thirty-inch display, relieves the driver of the need to additionally focus his eyes. Thanks to this, the driver's eyes get less tired while driving, and he himself gets rid of the need to disperse his attention between observing the road and controlling the traffic situation on the autonavigator display. All relevant information is displayed on the Pioneer NavGate HUD projector in a clear, concise manner, it is carefully selected and made as useful as possible in terms of its functionality so as not to distract the driver from the driving process. clear and simple instructions, received by the driver from the navigator, make road junctions more understandable and simplify the process of orienting on the roads.
Overhead display technology was originally developed for use in the aviation industry. After improvement and modernization, this technology was adapted for its application in modern road transport. This technology is very promising, since its use allows displaying useful information for the driver in high resolution directly in his field of vision, which gives him the opportunity to control the route without taking his eyes off the road.
The device is convenient to use at any time of the day: thanks to the use of special light sensors in it, the brightness of the projected image is automatically adjusted according to the time of day, as well as weather conditions.
The NavGate HUD works in conjunction with a smartphone, which must have the compatible CoPilot mobile app pre-installed. This application is characterized wide range functions: support for voice control, the presence of detailed navigation with directions, the possibility of detailed route planning, as well as storing detailed road maps of the city in memory for using them offline, etc.
NavGate HUD is used in conjunction with mobile phone iPhone of the fourth and fifth generation, as well as with smartphones operating on the Android operating system. This electronic device is compatible with the iGO Primo iPhone app, a powerful navigation application that supports 3D voice navigation, including location search, turn-by-turn directions, realistic road junctions, green routes, and more. convenient features. It can also work with the CoPilot mobile application, which the user needs to purchase and install on their smartphone, activating the HUD functions after purchase. This application through the speaker of a smartphone or a Bluetooth-enabled car radio installed in the passenger compartment plays voice prompts in which direction to turn at intersections. If through car speakers or mobile device music is playing, it will be automatically muted before the voice prompts are heard. In addition, the operation of the projection display and the smartphone in conjunction is built in such a way that the work of the navigator does not stop even during the user's phone calls: the Pioneer NavGate SPX-HUD01 projector continues to give clear directions regarding the route of movement during a phone call.
This projector is housed in a stylish, ergonomically shaped housing that blends harmoniously with the interior design of any modern car. In front of the body is an optical screen made of high-quality polycarbonate, a translucent glass used to create a virtual thirty-inch display in front of the windshield of the car. On the case there is a power connector designed to recharge the device, as well as a USB port used to connect a smartphone to the projector. Also on the projector body there is a slot for a Micro SD card used to record updates software devices.b
The instrument panel is good, but when information is additionally displayed on the glass, it is even better. Let's talk about the purpose of the projection display, its varieties, characteristics, cost and video.
The content of the article:
The projection display is becoming more and more popular, in another way it is also called HUD or Head-Up Display. The big advantage of this technology is traffic safety and driving comfort.
The main purpose is to project current information from the instrument panel onto the windshield of the car. The image is calculated in such a way in height so as not to distract attention from the road to have an idea about the state of the car and speed.
A little background
For the first time, such technology began to be used in aviation, but the projection display came to the automotive industry only in 1988 by General Motors. 10 years later, GM pioneered this technology with a color display.
Since 2003, the head-up display has appeared in BMW cars. Today, the projection system is used in many premium cars. Every year, the technology becomes cheaper, which means it is more accessible on cars of other budget classes.
head-up display
The name speaks for itself, when buying a car it is offered as an option. By design, the system includes a head-up display, a projector and a projection control system.
To form an image, manufacturers use a projector with high contrast and color saturation. Having collected together the parameters from different meters of the car:
- engine sensors;
- navigation system;
- night vision system;
- adaptive cruise control;
- sign recognition and others.
Thanks to the head-up display, the driver receives a virtual image, which allows him to concentrate on the road. Two types of screen are recognized. Often the most common can be considered a special, transparent film that is glued to the windshield. It prevents the image from scattering under different weather conditions. By car brand Mini the manufacturer uses a transparent screen instead of a film.
Depending on the manufacturer of the head-up display and the systems it uses, it can be designed:
- duplication of different sensors of the instrument panel;
- signal about the car in the dead zone;
- the presence of pedestrians on the side of the road at night;
- vehicle speed;
- engine speed from the tachometer;
- indicators from the navigation system;
- signal about different road signs.
The advantage of such a display is its versatility and ease of installation. It is a portable projector that can be installed in a convenient place for the driver and display the image on the windshield.
Garmin devices are considered the most common. Installed directly on the torpedo. The second manufacturer is Pioneer, according to the instructions, it is attached to the sun visor. In this case, the video signal is sent to the projector via a smartphone via Bluetooth or a USB cable.
It is immediately worth considering that the functional set of a mobile projection display is several times smaller than a standard one. Most often, a mobile device includes indicators of the navigation system, vehicle speed, but this requires a smartphone and special software installed on it.
Of the popular mobile projectors, the device from Navdy is considered. The display can be connected to a smartphone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you can also connect it to on-board computer, via the diagnostic connector.
Thanks to the on-board computer, information from various sensors on the instrument panel can be displayed on the projection display. The built-in infrared camera will allow you to implement tight control of the projection display with additional remote control management.
The simplest way to implement a projection display can be done from a regular smartphone. This will be based on a special program that displays certain information on the smartphone screen.
The smartphone itself is located on the instrument panel, the image from the smartphone display is projected (displayed) on the windshield, thereby showing the driver the necessary information.
The program distorts the image in a mirror form so that the correct, readable information is on the glass. But still, it will not be able to replace the stationary one of the above induced displays.
Display price
The cost of a standard display will depend on the manufacturer, on average, its price as an option will be from 500 euros. Based on a Garmin mobile projection display, its price ranges from 200 euros. The cheapest and easiest way is to use a smartphone, just buy a special stand for a couple of thousand rubles and install it near the windshield and add your smartphone.
It is worth noting that the head-up display technology only on the windshield is just beginning to develop. It is believed that in the future the Head-Up Display system will display all the necessary information on the windshield, including the image from the side rear-view mirrors.
Video of the principle of operation of the projection display:
It's time to find out what kind of electronics to expect in cars in the near future. Let's try to imagine what other gadgets and technologies may become as familiar as car radios or DVRs.
Wireless networks in the car
Manufacturers of semiconductor communication solutions are already releasing special versions of automotive chips designed for automotive information technology. entertainment systems. Depending on the need, using a Wi-Fi + Bluetooth connection, the car’s media center can communicate with the wearable electronics of the owner (after all, we are talking about the future, where there may be even more options for wearable electronics than modern smart watches) and, depending on the information received, unlock the car or warn of danger.
An even more interesting application of various combinations of wireless networks will have to be systems like V2X - providing for the exchange of data between the car and the surrounding infrastructure. Vehicular communication systems - automotive systems communications involving the exchange of information between vehicles (accident data, traffic situation, traffic jams, etc.), providing for the ability to more effectively manage the traffic situation as a whole, by providing information to all participants. There are already several implementations of such short range communications (DRSC) networks. Technically, they should work in the 5.9 GHz frequency range (5.85-5.925 GHz), with an approximate range of up to 1000 meters. This standard is called IEEE 802.11p (WAVE), and was approved in 2010.
In 1999, this frequency in the US was secured to create an intelligent transportation system (ITS). The ITS of the future can be seen as a system that uses information and communication technologies in the field of road transport (including infrastructure, vehicles, system participants, as well as traffic regulation), and at the same time has the ability to interact with other modes of transport. Traditional WiMAX, GSM, 3G or 4G/5G technologies can also be used to operate such systems. Considering now existing options solutions for wireless networking in cars, it is safe to assume that communication or "connection" of the car to the global network, in one form or another, is virtually inevitable.
Mobile operating systems for cars
Modern motorists can no longer be surprised by a media center running Android OS. Most often, Android can be found on the head unit of a car (if you use a modern DVR, then Android can even be found ... in the CANSONIC SKY rear-view mirror).
However, in fact, the plans of companies extend much further, and Android Auto, introduced by Google in 2014, can be an example of such future solutions. Backed by twenty-eight car manufacturers and Nvidia, the car-optimized "mobile" operating system is vying for the right to revolutionize the "zoo" of diverse proprietary operating systems in media centers. We've already seen this somewhere, haven't we? Just as Android on smartphones over time replaced its own operating systems various manufacturers, you can bet on the repetition of this scenario on cars. AT current form the system already has good functionality - supports GPS navigation, music playback, SMS, telephony, web search, touch screens and the ability to control hardware switches and buttons, along with voice control. At the moment, Android Auto relies on the presence (and connection to the car) of the driver's main Android device, acting more like an interface for conveniently integrating familiar smartphone functions into the car. This approach has its advantages - given the speed of updating and the increasing power of modern mobile platforms, the lack of its own built-in (and therefore obviously outdated every year) electronics will make it possible to obtain new functions simply by connecting a new smartphone. The car acts as a "normal" docking station - it may sound strange now, but in the future such a scenario is not at all excluded.
Unmanned vehicles and electric vehicles
Of course, what is the future without self-driving cars! However, almost everyone who imagines self-driving cars as seriously different from classic manual cars is in for a little disappointment. Google's self-driving cars are the only modern car concept "without a steering wheel or pedals". Most self-driving concepts (including those that have received the right to drive on public roads in some US states) suggest the possibility of returning to manual control any time. Thus, for the driver and passengers, the use of self-management does not bring external major changes to the interior of the car. Modern self-driving cars achieve significant success, for example, this year a self-driving car managed to overtake a racing driver, however, the advantage was very small - only 0.4 seconds.
A similar situation is repeated for electric vehicles and hybrids. With the exception of Tesla, which stands apart, automakers are striving in every possible way to unify the experience of using electric vehicles, hybrids and cars with internal combustion engines. So in many cases, to distinguish an electric car from ordinary car(except for the sound of the engine) is possible only by additional charge indicators on the dashboard and the presence of a charging socket instead of the gas tank neck.
Holographic HUD displays
Back in 2006, Light Blue Optics Ltd announced the acquisition of a license for the production of full-color holographic laser projectors. The technology itself was invented by Edward Buckley and Adrian Cable in 2003 at the University of Cambridge. Starting in 2009, this system began to be adapted for use in displays that do not require the driver's attention to be distracted from the road (head-up display, HUD). There were many options for projecting an image onto a car windshield - these are full-color laser holograms and much more simple solutions(reflection of a mirror image of a bright monochrome display off the glass). So far, automakers are in no hurry to equip all new models with HUD displays, but there are such examples - in 2014 such a system was received range rover Evoque, and Ford company relies on the MISHOR 3D system, with similar functions. HUD displays have securely won the windshields of aircraft (primarily military ones), but in cars of the future (especially self-driving ones), such an information output system will look more than appropriate.
Augmented reality in cars
Why limit the area of possible projection to the windshield? Approximately such reasoning guided the authors of modern concepts of augmented reality systems. This and the "transparent hood" system in Land vehicles Rover (the system allows the driver to see the road surface, which is normally hidden, is implemented using cameras and projectors inside the car) and the concept of a virtual screen with “tips” regarding the necessary trajectory (just like in the NFS Shift series of games).
A more extravagant solution is the concept of a completely transparent car from Japan's Keio University. In it, the rear seat of the car becomes transparent so as not to block the driver's view when reversing. At the rear of the car is a projector that projects the image onto a reflective screen located between and slightly behind the two front seats.
When the driver looks back over his shoulder, he sees an almost real view from behind the car, but only through augmented reality. The concept is certainly interesting, but clearly does not take into account the presence of passengers in the car. Most likely, such systems will still conquer the cars of the future, in one form or another projecting an image in the form of augmented reality.
Alternative Control Methods
In addition to voice control or entering the desired route through the touch screen (in a hypothetical self-driving car of the future), automakers are experimenting with more exotic ways of control - including gesture control. Back in 2012, Mercedes-Benz introduced an interior concept called DICE (Dynamic & Intuitive Control Experience).
Instead of a windshield, it was proposed to use a display, and with the help of sensors, track the position of the driver’s or front passenger’s hand in space and follow its movements to regulate and adjust the functions of the car. Even with ultra-high resolution screens, it is unlikely that drivers will soon agree to use them instead of a windshield. Audi also demonstrated the gesture control system in the same year, but there it was used to change the modes of the HUD display. So in addition to sensors that monitor a fastened seat belt or the presence of passengers in the cabin, in the cabin of the future we can expect a much larger variety of “tracking systems”, like Leap Motion.
Social networks of the future and cars
Already today, social networks and services “for motorists” can significantly influence the traffic situation. There are many examples of this - even the police pay attention to applications such as Waze (a crowdsourcing project based on user data, with the help of which the project participants learn about the occurrence of problems on the roads), speaking both with criticism and with approval. The possibility of notifications of the whereabouts of patrols has caused law enforcement concerns for the safety of police officers. Examples of social interactions at the level of "car-car" or "car-infrastructure" can take on different forms - these are loyalty programs from gas stations, free electric refueling stations for electric vehicles, optimization of parking spaces in the city depending on occupancy, taxi call systems without a dispatcher, "gamification ” and “achievements” (for example, accrual of points for safe driving) when using the car. Most of these features are not surprising in and of themselves, but they will no doubt be developed in future vehicles.
Afterword
Of course, it is almost impossible to guess what cars or their electronics will be like in a few decades with great certainty. It is obvious that auto electronics will see a qualitative leap, because every year concepts at auto shows begin to resemble real “cars from the future”, which we represented only in fantastic works. It remains only to wait a bit and we will see what other technologies of the future will seem to us as familiar as a car radio or a DVR.
