Car manufacturer Mini has revealed that it is working on augmented reality eyewear to increase safety and connectivity between drivers and its vehicles.
The glasses, which are currently in the working prototype stage, can display vehicle and navigation instructions in the drivers’ primary field of view and render parts of the car, including the A-pillar and doors 'invisible' in order to improve visibility.
Dr Jörg Preißinger, project-manager Mini Augmented Vision, BMW Group research and technology said: ‘Working with several Qualcomm companies, we have created an interlinked system and augmented reality eyewear with a characteristic Mini design that revolutionise the experience both in and outside the vehicle. This prototype with its customised, interactive functions succeeds in fusing augmented reality with the brand’s trademark sense of lifestyle.’
Previewed ahead of the Shanghai Motor Show, the glasses will also include functionality for augmented reality parking. Cameras housed within the car’s bodywork will relay footage to the driver in their field of vision. It was expected that the glasses would become a high cost option on Mini models in the future.
‘We are proud to have helped develop a breakthrough augmented reality interface between eyewear and the automobile,’ said Jay Wright, vice president Qualcomm Connected Experiences. ‘Mini Augmented Vision offers a compelling example of what’s possible today, and what we can expect in the future.’
