Changing Role, Advancement, and Transformation of Vehicle Hardware
Software has become an essential point of conversation in the automotive industry. A high-end vehicle has nearly 100 million lines of code today, and it is increasing exponentially every year. As the number of lines of code increases in a vehicle, it is imperative for us to bring in the necessary changes in skill sets, functionality, and of course, automotive hardware. Much like the lines of code, the CPUs, GPUs, and server infrastructure requirement for a vehicle has also increased exponentially. Today, as many as 150 Engine Control Units(ECUs) are installed to a car that controls various functions.
Automotive hardware has been adapting to suit the changes in a vehicle - externally and internally.
In 1910, automobile manufacturers began to include the speedometer as standard equipment. In the mid-1930s, an instrument cluster attached above the steering column grouped all the important gauges and indicators, including those for engine revolutions, fuel, and turn signals. By the mid-1950s, the electric speedometer was introduced, signifying another significant change in automotive technology.
Today, we have large interactive and well-integrated display surfaces available at the driver’s disposal to project vehicle information. Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) has grown to a point where both the driver and the vehicle communicate equally with each other. The driver requests for information directs the vehicle, and the vehicle displays information and shares real-time alerts through various channels and mediums. This kind of intuitive dialogue between vehicle and driver not only makes driving more enjoyable but also creates increased trust in driver assistance systems, the first step towards automated driving.
A camera facing the rear-side to facilitate reversing operations, dashboard touch-screens, and proximity sensors are now getting prominently featured in almost every modern car. Moreover, today, due to the integration of high-precision sensors and cameras into the instrument cluster, vehicle systems can quickly learn how the driver feels and wants and accordingly display information. Some vehicles also feature futuristic hardware that delivers haptic warnings and alerts, turns your windshield into a monitor, etc., making the ride more comfortable and safer.
Head-up Display
A head-up display (HUD) shows information exactly where you need it directly in the line of sight.
In the case of a windscreen, head-up display drivers see a virtual image, but not as a static picture on the windshield but “floating” over the hood at a distance of about two meters.
The head-up display also makes driving more comfortable. The driver feels better protected because they have all the information directly in their line of sight and, therefore, can recognize and catch critical situations even faster. It will become harder to miss important information.
The usability of navigation systems also improves with better visual feedback regarding the road ahead, especially with the augmented reality head-up display, where navigation information is seamlessly integrated into the environment in front of the car and can be easily adjusted to the needs and preferences of the driver. The HUD set can be customized in different ways starting from the positioning of the virtual image and finishing with deciding the information the driver wants to be displayed.
Pulsating Accelerator
The Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal provides a new way to warn drivers of potential hazards or help them adopt a more fuel-efficient style of driving. Drivers are often bombarded with information around them, particularly in dense urban traffic. The potential of lights or other display systems as warnings is low in these conditions.
With so much of their attention devoted to the surrounding traffic, dashboard displays, or the navigation system, drivers simply cannot register more visual or audio information.
The Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal makes it possible to communicate directly with the driver and provide information in such a way that it can be intuitively understood, and acted upon with no additional stress.
The central mechanical feature of the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal is an electric motor that is linked to the accelerator and which can generate a haptic signal in the form of a counterforce in the pedal. The OEMs are free to choose for themselves exactly how they implement the AFFP functions in their vehicles and what type or intensity of signal they use for the pedal feedback. For example, the pedal can vibrate twice to indicate the ideal gear shift point.Increased counterforce can prompt the driver to lift the foot off the accelerator, or distinct vibration can warn of hazards, such as when a safe distance to the vehicle in front is no longer maintained. The AFFP can be fitted in small vans or heavy trucks – categories of the vehicle in which following inadequate distances and driver fatigue have been identified as the most frequent causes of accidents.
Lane Departure Warning System on The Steering wheel
Similar to the AFFP, LDWS also works on haptic feedback. The installed video cameras track the road markings and detect any change in the distance to either side of the vehicle. It is usually concealed in a casing behind the rear-view mirror. If the vehicle threatens to veer out of the lane, the lane departure warning system alerts the driver using an acoustic or haptic alarm.
Depending on the make of the car, the steering wheel or the driver’s seat will vibrate, or an acoustic warning will sound, prompting the driver to get the vehicle back on course. Lane Keeping Assist can also actively intervene to keep the car in the lane. Depending on the distance to the curb or median strip, the system intervenes to a different extent – in most cases, by electronically amplifying the steering force.
The automotive world is transforming both in terms of software and hardware. The hardware components have evolved to support more than just displaying information. Today, it connects the car with the environment, detects threats, and throws signals in various forms to produce a safe and comfortable driving experience. Possibilities are infinite with the hardware of today.
The head-up display also makes driving more comfortable. The driver feels better protected because they have all the information directly in their line of sight and, therefore, can recognize and catch critical situations even faster. It will become harder to miss important information.
The usability of navigation systems also improves with better visual feedback regarding the road ahead, especially with the augmented reality head-up display, where navigation information is seamlessly integrated into the environment in front of the car and can be easily adjusted to the needs and preferences of the driver. The HUD set can be customized in different ways starting from the positioning of the virtual image and finishing with deciding the information the driver wants to be displayed.
Pulsating Accelerator
The Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal provides a new way to warn drivers of potential hazards or help them adopt a more fuel-efficient style of driving. Drivers are often bombarded with information around them, particularly in dense urban traffic. The potential of lights or other display systems as warnings is low in these conditions.
With so much of their attention devoted to the surrounding traffic, dashboard displays, or the navigation system, drivers simply cannot register more visual or audio information.
The Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal makes it possible to communicate directly with the driver and provide information in such a way that it can be intuitively understood, and acted upon with no additional stress.
The central mechanical feature of the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal is an electric motor that is linked to the accelerator and which can generate a haptic signal in the form of a counterforce in the pedal. The OEMs are free to choose for themselves exactly how they implement the AFFP functions in their vehicles and what type or intensity of signal they use for the pedal feedback. For example, the pedal can vibrate twice to indicate the ideal gear shift point.Increased counterforce can prompt the driver to lift the foot off the accelerator, or distinct vibration can warn of hazards, such as when a safe distance to the vehicle in front is no longer maintained. The AFFP can be fitted in small vans or heavy trucks – categories of the vehicle in which following inadequate distances and driver fatigue have been identified as the most frequent causes of accidents.
Lane Departure Warning System on The Steering wheel
Similar to the AFFP, LDWS also works on haptic feedback. The installed video cameras track the road markings and detect any change in the distance to either side of the vehicle. It is usually concealed in a casing behind the rear-view mirror. If the vehicle threatens to veer out of the lane, the lane departure warning system alerts the driver using an acoustic or haptic alarm.
Depending on the make of the car, the steering wheel or the driver’s seat will vibrate, or an acoustic warning will sound, prompting the driver to get the vehicle back on course. Lane Keeping Assist can also actively intervene to keep the car in the lane. Depending on the distance to the curb or median strip, the system intervenes to a different extent – in most cases, by electronically amplifying the steering force.
The automotive world is transforming both in terms of software and hardware. The hardware components have evolved to support more than just displaying information. Today, it connects the car with the environment, detects threats, and throws signals in various forms to produce a safe and comfortable driving experience. Possibilities are infinite with the hardware of today.
