Augmented Reality Heads-Up Displays

Car manufacturers have teased and hinted at Augmented Reality Heads-Up Displays (AR-HUD) since as early as 1965, when GM were drawing up the Mako Shark II. But this computer-age technology has existed since the Second World War. The de Havilland Mosquito’s radar information was projected for the pilot onto a piece of glass in front of the cockpit’s windscreen. However, we have not seen these kinds of displays implemented in a lot of modern cars, with some modest exceptions where standard dashboard information is projected onto the windscreen.

But that may be about to change. With the likes of VW, Mercedes, and Hyundai offering vehicles with AR-HUD options. Using AI tech similar to that used in Tesla’s self-driving cars, they claim these additions will make driving much safer as dangerous obstacles are highlighted to the driver ahead of time, and GPS is displayed in a way that tracks eye-movement, meaning that the HUD is always optimised to reduce driver distraction. But why so much emphasis on AR now? According to CEO of Falcon AR, Juliana Clegg, the missing ingredient has been ‘Depth – variable depth between the driver and, say, 30 meters in front of the vehicle – is vital to make a real safety impact.’ With new technological advancements car manufacturers are now able to offer the visual depth that was previously lacking.

It may be a while before driving instructors in Thatcham start teaching in cars that utilise augmented reality on their windscreens, but you never know…