HUDs to be the norm in future driving?
It has often been said that Mercedes-Benz, specifically the S-class, represents the future of the automobile. The cliche goes that innovations pioneered by an S-class today, becomes standard fitment in every Honda, Toyota, and Nissan ten or fifteen years down the road. Airbags, ABS, and seat-belt pre-tensioners are among many things that first made their appearances in the flagship Merc.
However, in 1988, Mercedes allowed one piece of technical innovation to slip under their radar. That year, GM introduced the first automobiled-based heads-up display system in the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Previously the exclusive domain of advanced jetfighters, HUDs are beginning to see action in high-end automobiles, and it won’t be long before we see this feature trickle down to us mere mortals.
Continental AG, one of the world’s top auto suppliers, is now set to commence production on a new generation of more compact and more powerful HUD unit scheduled for introduction in 2010 and 2011 by two noted, but unnamed, European car manufacturers. As it stands the Interior division of Continental’s Automotive Group is now constructing new production lines at its plant in Babenhausen, Hesse, near Frankfurt, Germany.
HUD, coming soon – to your next car perhaps?
Compared to the first generation of TFT-based HUDs, Continental’s latest module occupies only half of the volume previously needed, opening the option for manufacturers of smaller cars to specify this feature into their vehicles. It certainly wasn’t an easy challenge. Achieving a good quality projection is crucial so that the driver does not have to refocus his/her vision to the display elements on the road, or the whole purpose of using the HUD would have been defeated.
Studies during the early development of this technology show that in order for HUDs to be effective, the projected image must be focused at a point far ahead of the driver. In the case of Continental’s system, the driver perceives the displayed image as floating two meters ahead of him/her. Proper calibration of a HUD therefore, although simple in theory, requires substantial optical trickery in order to attain the desired effect.
KON
Wow, this is interesting