Recently Slashgear reported that Volvo Cars has invested in a new optical imaging company called Spectralics. The car manufacturer wants to develop new technology that can turn the entire front windshield into a display. This technology is more advanced than the current HUD display. Volvo said this helps to improve the driving experience by keeping the driver's gaze always ahead and improving safety.
Spectralics is developing optical films that can be applied to transparent surfaces in a variety of shapes and sizes. So it can be used for curved front windshield or car window. It is a multilayer film composite (MLTC) that can display images.
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Volvo's system not only relies on display film, but also requires the car to be equipped with cameras and sensors to protect it from blind spots. The windshield can display navigation information and speed in real time. On a dark night or when visibility is poor, the front glass can also display images from vehicle sensors and cameras. They are superimposed on the real picture. This helps the driver to drive safely in thick fog, rain and snow conditions. Cars with this technology will timely identify obstacles in front and prevent rear-end collisions.
How will new technologies work in Volvo cars?
As Spectralics explains, “When its MLTC is used on a car windshield, it creates a very wide field of view for digital overlay, giving drivers a sense of distance with virtual objects superimposed on it. real environment. The technology could include advanced cabin detection filters, blind-protected front-facing cameras and digital holographic projections. "
However, not everything is as simple as you think. Many are concerned about the cost of this technology. In some high-latitude areas, strong winds often blow during the winter. In addition to strong winds, sand and gravel can also damage your windshield. In addition, ice cubes from the roof will fall outward in winter, damaging the windshield. If the cost of Volvo display technology is too high, the cost of replacing the front windshield will also be very high. In other words, even if it appears on some models, they will be flagships at too high a price.
This may sound unrealistic at the moment, but Volvo Cars has a long history of introducing new safety technologies for cars. Moreover, most of them eventually appeared on the models of other automakers. So there is every reason to believe that this will be another technology in the series. Moreover, it is quite useful. You know that driving in extreme weather conditions is dangerous. For example, when driving in heavy snow it is often impossible to see very far. It is not recommended to stop either. So technology like this can be very helpful.
