Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Vision - Augmented Reality Windshield Display (Next Generation Augmented Reality technology to improve car safety and driving experience)
Période du rapport: 2023-02-01 au 2024-01-31
Problem: Every 40s 1 driver is killed due to smartphone use while driving. Around the world, distracted driving leads to the death of 1.4 million drivers and +750,000 serious injuries per year. Solution: Augmented Reality (AR) can greatly improve driving safety.
Today, AR Head Up Displays (HUDs) are being used in a growing number of cars. However, most AR HUD products do not meet the industrialisation and optical performance requirements of the automotive industry, and fail to unlock the safety benefits of AR.
Technology: EyeLights are on a mission to make driving safer and more enjoyable. Our patent-protected technology is based on the optimization of light properties through polarised light guides and diffractive nano materials.
The result is a revolutionary virtual screen which can be projected up to 50m in front of the driver, with the smallest form factor in the market. This will accelerate the adoption of our technology by the automotive industry and increase driving safety.
Today, AR Head Up Displays (HUDs) are being used in a growing number of cars. However, most AR HUD products do not meet the industrialisation and optical performance requirements of the automotive industry, and fail to unlock the safety benefits of AR.
Technology: EyeLights are on a mission to make driving safer and more enjoyable. Our patent-protected technology is based on the optimization of light properties through polarised light guides and diffractive nano materials.
The result is a revolutionary virtual screen which can be projected up to 50m in front of the driver, with the smallest form factor in the market. This will accelerate the adoption of our technology by the automotive industry and increase driving safety.
During the first 12 months of this project, we had a dual technical objective:
-Develop the basis for the design of highly efficient and compact optical engines for head-up displays (HUDs).
-Design and optimize the modules required for the software development kit that accompanies the AR HUD.
With regard to the first objective, the optical studies we carried out enabled us to optimize the contrast ratio and polarization ratio of the generation units, while preserving the gains in brightness and lighting homogeneity made possible by the integration of a nanostructured layer integrated into the projection generation unit with edge-lit backlighting.
Regarding software developments, we first demonstrated that the kernel customization and optimization we have carried out on ARM architecture has demonstrated its ability to be linked and to communicate in real-time with the sensors of the vehicle.
Once this initial stage had been completed, we were able to develop object identification modules enabling us to acquire, identify and track objects in real time.
The software implementation we have carried out on ARM architecture has demonstrated its ability to provide an augmented reality rendering which the real environment in real-time
-Develop the basis for the design of highly efficient and compact optical engines for head-up displays (HUDs).
-Design and optimize the modules required for the software development kit that accompanies the AR HUD.
With regard to the first objective, the optical studies we carried out enabled us to optimize the contrast ratio and polarization ratio of the generation units, while preserving the gains in brightness and lighting homogeneity made possible by the integration of a nanostructured layer integrated into the projection generation unit with edge-lit backlighting.
Regarding software developments, we first demonstrated that the kernel customization and optimization we have carried out on ARM architecture has demonstrated its ability to be linked and to communicate in real-time with the sensors of the vehicle.
Once this initial stage had been completed, we were able to develop object identification modules enabling us to acquire, identify and track objects in real time.
The software implementation we have carried out on ARM architecture has demonstrated its ability to provide an augmented reality rendering which the real environment in real-time
Our technology will display all driving data, information from ADAS systems and smartphone content to the windshield. This will allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road, while our driver monitoring system (tuned to detect driver fatigue) will drastically improve driving safety. Hence, through VISION carmakers will get the opportunity to offer their customers unique safety driving features unlocked by VISION’s intuitive AR navigation.
- VISION has 15X better optical performance and is brighter (up to 20,000 nits) than state-of-the-art HUDs using LED-backlit technology. Despite the superior performance of our technology, our goal is to commercialise VISION at the same price with existing HUDs (i.e. €200/HUD). Hence, VISION drastically improves cost-efficiency for carmakers.
- VISION consumes less power (less than 1W/inch) compared to existing HUDs, which are power hungry. Hence, VISION’s high energy efficiency will fuel the integration of our HUD into electric vehicles
VISION technology will be a key enabling technology for the market uptake of autonomous driving. As ADAS systems take control over the car, VISION AR HUD will increase drivers’ understanding of these systems. VISION HUD will show to the driver what the autonomous car is seeing and what it is doing, giving the driver confidence in self-driving cars and the technologies that enable them. Moreover, in the era of autonomous driving in-vehicle convenience is a major driving force. If we are not driving the vehicle, what are we going to do with our time in the vehicles? Through AR, location-specific information and infotainment content (e.g. videos, movies) can be projected onto the windshield or side windows. Hence, our AR platform will unlock many location-based content applications. This will allow Europe to lead the global Mobility as a Service market, which grows at a 31% CAGR and is expected to reach 60B€ by 2030.
- VISION has 15X better optical performance and is brighter (up to 20,000 nits) than state-of-the-art HUDs using LED-backlit technology. Despite the superior performance of our technology, our goal is to commercialise VISION at the same price with existing HUDs (i.e. €200/HUD). Hence, VISION drastically improves cost-efficiency for carmakers.
- VISION consumes less power (less than 1W/inch) compared to existing HUDs, which are power hungry. Hence, VISION’s high energy efficiency will fuel the integration of our HUD into electric vehicles
VISION technology will be a key enabling technology for the market uptake of autonomous driving. As ADAS systems take control over the car, VISION AR HUD will increase drivers’ understanding of these systems. VISION HUD will show to the driver what the autonomous car is seeing and what it is doing, giving the driver confidence in self-driving cars and the technologies that enable them. Moreover, in the era of autonomous driving in-vehicle convenience is a major driving force. If we are not driving the vehicle, what are we going to do with our time in the vehicles? Through AR, location-specific information and infotainment content (e.g. videos, movies) can be projected onto the windshield or side windows. Hence, our AR platform will unlock many location-based content applications. This will allow Europe to lead the global Mobility as a Service market, which grows at a 31% CAGR and is expected to reach 60B€ by 2030.