Augmented reality has the particularity of utilizing the environment and software to generate information directly to the user in a form that is easily consumable and practical to access in any moment. We have seen the many advantages of Augmented Reality navigational systems in smartphones and other systems like tablets, where the implementation of augmented reality software, has brought the users the possibilities of implementing these navigational systems to their current lives on many systems and applications.
From games, to directly having a GPS interface on augmented reality directly on many devices, this has helped greatly to the development of an entire user interface, this helps the seamless integration of Augmented Reality systems that can really escalate to other devices quickly and without requiring too much development in a costly manner.
AR Glass or Glasses for Driving?
There is the particular question that how we can integrate feasibly Augmented Reality systems for driving every day. In the case of the state of the technology right now, seems more prone to be a glass system integrated to the dashboard. Many brands of cars, from the General Motors´ Corvette, to the BMW series 5 and 7 interface integration, have started to use these dashboard systems to properly fit in Augmented Reality in the terms of providing information about speed, direction, fuel efficiency and other data that can be helpful for the user.
AR glasses are still on the process of proper implementation by using the heads up display directly on the glasses of the users, to implement these systems without being too much of a hassle in the terms and navigation, and not be a distraction for the user. There has been multiple offerings on the market, to provide a possible future integration of augmented reality systems, that can really assist the drivers in a very seamless experience, still there has been some issues of proper incorporation of technologies, such as what the user has to do with the smartphone, or how to make the car work properly and gathering information without too much of an interference.
Augmented Reality systems for navigation, have been proven quite successful, and now with the recent offerings on the market, there has been said that there are the proper steps being taken into consideration of properly making cars completely intelligent by integrating these systems that not only secure the user, make them more aware of the information that they have on board. Also, as well to solve their problems of distraction on the road by having their information about where they have to go directly in front of them in a transparent interface.
In this article we are going to show you, the most commercially available systems of Augmented Reality navigational systems, and how can be used to the best extension of the possibilities of the technology today.
Hudway Cast
Costing 300$ is the most expensive solution in our list for a Dashboard mounted heads-up display, is also one of the most ingenious solutions that we have seen on the market to solve the divide that exists between the smartphone and an augmented reality system that can be pulled to gather information and to project it on your dashboard. In this case it works as a marriage of the two systems, it’s a heads-up display, that mirrors on a screen over your dashboard, the screen of your smartphone.
What this means actually is that in this integration of technology, you do not have an entirely separated device you have a compliment to your smile Phone, this means that you have the information of your smartphone modifying it to be displayed on this small screen over your dashboard, and you obtain information systems directly without sacrificing one use over the other. You are looking directly at your smile found without having to distract yourself, what this system uses an ingenious integration of the applications like Apple AirPlay and Google Cast, united to their own casting system, to display exactly your screen in the parts that are related to navigation, music or additional systems or applications that are compatible.
This system puts itself front and center in the Vanguard of having a proper integration of a smartphone as an Augmented Reality system, that serves the drivers as a truly assisting system that allows them to reach their destination safely without having to distract themselves by looking at their smartphone. Also as well he has one of the most complete range of applications available, can use Wi-Fi directly on the car, and can use also as well the OBD II cable of your car interface, to have additional information like miles per gallon and revolutions per minute, making your information display as complete as possible.
Is one of the most complete systems on the market and can rival many information systems and consoles that are available on more expensive car models.
Garmin Head-up Display. Easy indication and accessible price.
It is not uncommon in this list to find the giant of GPS location systems, having an option that is considerably available for the users that can help to integrate their cars no matter the technology status, to appropriate implementation of Augmented Reality systems in their dashboard. This system is quite flexible in the way that it can be integrated directly to your dashboard, because offers you two ways in which the information can be displayed. One form is to use a transparent film over the windshield, like in many cars today like the Corvette, another form is using a small reflector lens that is included with the system, that it is similar and many of the projection systems that we have been seeing on current generation fighter planes.
Like all the systems offered it by Garmin this system provides information on any specific basis, turn by turn navigation, speed limit and how close you can be from speed cameras. However, this system has its limitations, because as with any other a system, depends entirely on the interface an information gathered by a smartphone that then is really done translated to the heads-up display on your dashboard. Utilizes a Bluetooth interface, and can work with systems and applications like StreetPilot in iOS or Navigon in Android, but still there is a long way for integration with applications like Google Drive, but for $150 is one very good entry option for users who want directly on the dashboard an amount of information that can be relayed simply and clearly visible for them without having to interact too much with a smartphone.
Sherox 3.5-inch HUD. Entry-level AR integration system
46$ your read that right, and for that price there is a simplicity is what this company decided to do this system is pretty straight forward, they decided to take an OBD2 port Interface, connected directly to a projector system that is going to be available to the user’s windshield. The shape of the device is similar like on a small Clock, and the information is relayed directly on the surface of the device, but it is projected to be inversed clearly on the windshield.
What this means is that through the interface , the device knows the speed of the car and directly projected, while it does not have additional features like the other models, it can actually take the same system of information that takes from the interface such as: temperature, voltage and a trip meter. In order to project it directly over the windshield to gather information to be projected the user must manually switch the different types of information. Because there is no automated system as well of cycling the information. By far is one of the cheapest devices of the list, but accomplishes its function, it’s a simple provider information that can be brought on a dashboard easily without too much complications an Augmented Reality system on board.
Vuzix Blade. The future of AR driving
Being one of the most advanced Augmented Reality glasses in the market available for the consumers, this is one of the system of glasses that can be adapted the easiest for a driving application. This adaptation is possible because giving the main idea of the company of developing these glasses is to implement them with a market of apps directly available to the users.
The system of these glasses can allow to acquire applications ready for driving and navigation, that can really help the users to navigate in case that their cars do not have proper access to these systems. And already some initial test has been made with Google, required the process of pairing the glasses directly to a smartphone to transmit the information from Google Maps. This is a very practical device that speaks about the possibilities of using these glasses as a navigational system available to a number of users through a very intuitive interface, a full potential that can be glimpsed but for a 1000$ is far from becoming a commercial success.