Land Rover Develops New 3D Head-up Display
If you're a fan of sci-fi, you'll love the fact that Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's most successful car brand, is investing in a new type of 3D head-up display. The motivation for the new display is simple. Instead of displaying all driver information on a screen in the centre console (or the instrument panel), the company wants to project images onto the road ahead. Drivers will see a kind of augmented reality overlay, showing them things like lane markings, speed limits, and warning signs.
The reason for investing in the technology is to help drivers keep their eyes on the road for longer. Display technology is getting better and better, and drivers are increasingly relying on their screens to help them navigate from A to B. The problem with this, Jaguar Land Rover says, is that it diverts attention from the road. The driver's eyes should be firmly fixed on the way ahead, not fiddling about with navigation on the centre console.
The hope is that the new technology will do away with all of that and make it so that drivers can experience all of the digital functionality of their vehicles without having to divert their attention. Navigational instructions could be projected to appear as if they are sitting on the road ahead, preventing distractions.
3D Display to Identify Hazards
Land Rover sees other benefits, besides improved navigation. It also hopes that the new technology will make it possible to identify hazards on the road and provide drivers with advice. The concept is to use cameras that integrate with the 3D HUD system to feed instructions and warnings to drivers to help them better identify possible dangers. Cameras with better resolution than the human eye would scan for hazards and then project notifications into the driver's field of vision.
The Benefits of the New System
Jaguar Land Rover decided to go ahead and implement the new system following a series of studies carried out in Germany. The research found that when people used 3D displays in their vehicles, they had better reaction times and could judge depth better. The overlay, therefore, enhanced the driving experience and made Jaguar's car's safer.
Jaguar says that once the new display enters full production, it will begin experimenting with alternative uses of the technology. The company says that because of the way that the technology works, it will be able to display 3D images without the driver having to wear accompanying 3D glasses. Passengers could theoretically use the system to watch 3D movies while the vehicle is in motion.
Land Rover is also planning for the fully-autonomous era. The company says that when its autonomous vehicles do eventually launch, the 3D HUD technology will allow every passenger to enjoy a customised entertainment experience.
What do you think about Jaguar Land Rover's foray into high technology? Would you like your next Range Rover to augment the appearance of the road in front of you? Or do you prefer to rely on traditional consoles and the power of your senses?
