Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Automotive) meanwhile announced two variants of in-vehicle wireless charging technology (moving coil and static coil.) Both of these variants will provide efficient in-vehicle charging that meet or exceed most current in-vehicle charging systems. The average American, for instance, owns ten connected devices per household and many of those devices travel with us in the vehicle on short or long trips.
As a result, the need for fast, efficient charging must also be readily accessible in a vehicle. With customers utilising apps, navigation and music that require constant power, the demand is high for having reliable in-vehicle sources for efficient charging of devices. However, the majority of vehicle charging systems remain wired or tethered. Panasonic Automotive’s wireless charging system aims to be a more accurate and more efficient way to charge – to be accessible in any vehicle without the hassle of first plugging in.
While drivers remain in control of their vehicles, there were plenty of examples at this year’s CES of safety technology that can be deployed to keep them safe behind the wheel.
DAR manufacturer Blickfeld unveiled its automotive LiDAR products for the first time at digital CES 2021. After commercially launching the industrial LiDAR “Cube 1” in 2020, the Munich-based company is presented its automotive LiDAR suite consisting of a mid-range as well as a long-range sensor. Blickfeld is also introducing its MEMS scanning module 118 as a product.
The mid-range sensor, called Blickfeld Vision Mini, has very small dimensions that can be customised according to customer requirements. Example dimensions of 5 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm illustrate the 3D LiDAR sensor’s compactness, enabling it to be smartly and efficiently integrated into vehicles. By incorporating it into side mirrors, headlights, rear-view lamps, and the A, B, and C pillars, for example, a 360° surround-view is achieved. With a field of view of up to 107° and a range of up to 150 meters on vehicles, the sensor provides reliable data for automated and autonomous driving in urban traffic.
Complementing the Vision Mini, Blickfeld is also introducing a long-range LiDAR sensor for automotive applications, the Blickfeld Vision Plus. This sensor is designed for use at the front and rear of the vehicle and covers the detection of small objects at distances of up to 200 meters. Together Vision Mini and Vision Plus enable automation for level 2+ and upward autonomous vehicles.
Both sensors are based on the patented Blickfeld technology. Consequently, they include the proven features such as a customizable field-of-view, configurable scan pattern, and good signal-to-noise ratio thanks to the coaxial design. The sensors’ low power consumption also contributes to their automotive suitability, as does their robustness and production scalability.
Panasonic Automotive, again, introduced its new Augmented Reality (AR) HUD. The leader in projection generation innovation, Panasonic is utilising its latest advances in optics, volume optimisation and imaging technology, combined with AI technology from its SPYDR cockpit domain controller to render near-field and far-field content for vehicle information (like speed), object and pedestrian detection, and mapping/route guidance, for a seamless, more engaged and informed driver experience.
“The HUD market is one of the fastest growing categories in mobility, but traditional HUDs only cover a small section of the road,” said Scott Kirchner, president Panasonic Automotive and executive director, Panasonic Smart Mobility. “Panasonic’s AR HUD solutions cover more of the roadway, with traditional cluster content like speed and fuel in the near field as well as 3D overlays in the far field, showing navigation and other critical driver data mapping spatially to the road ahead. And in a future with more self-driving vehicles, our AR HUD could provide an important added level of comfort and assurance for AV passengers as
well.”
With the number of traffic accidents rising each year, enhanced vehicle safety features are more important than ever. Studies have linked a large percentage of traffic accidents to reduced driver attention due to smartphone use. Opticser is incorporating advanced optics solutions to improve driver safety on the road. As an emerging company focused on the development of advanced optics technology, Opticser is confident that its products will not only impact vehicle drivers but also help increase general productivity and quality of life through other applications.
The promising tech startup that drives innovative solutions through the development of advanced optics technology. Its research development team is composed of talented individuals from multiple disciplines, including optics, computer science, industrial design, and marketing. All work closely together to help create new systems that improve productivity and user experiences. To minimise driver’s loss of attention on the road, Opticser realised that the most direct and effective solution is to develop an automotive head-up display (HUD) for vehicles.
The automotive HUD market is expected to top $4.3 billion by 2025, highlighting the explosive growth and opportunities in this sector over the coming few years. Even before this trend began, Opticser had built a solid track record of success in this area. It holds a large number of related patents and is set to grow quickly into a leadership position in the sector.
Driving-assistance information such as navigation, speed, speed limits, and turn-by-turn directions is all projected onto the windshield in the form of a floating virtual image on the road. The success of the Dartrays HUD lies in Opticser’s patented optical path design, consisting of an LCD that projects real-time images onto a fold mirror, which then reflects the image onto a curved mirror and optical lens for aberration correction and image enlargement. The virtual image is then projected onto the windshield. With a full suite of driving information displayed in easy view, drivers can concentrate on what’s coming on the road ahead, thus reducing distractions and the risk of accidents.
