Cars with Head-Up Display and Digital Cockpit

The head-up display technology

The car technology is progressive and has been successful in mesmerizing drivers and car enthusiasts with varied experiences while driving. The head-up display, which was once the brainchild of the aviation industry, has now opened wings in the automotive industry as well. This advancement, if looked back at, has now been conventionalized and customized in the modern cars and vehicles.

These days cars are loaded with features like 360-degree cameras, touchscreen infotainment systems, and ventilated seats. Convenience and safety are top priorities when it comes to making a car today. Among all the features invented and customized is the head-up display in cars, otherwise called HUD. This feature is slowly making its way into the more affordable variants of cars as well as the more luxurious ones.

How does it work?

The HUD is usually a transparent glass display that presents necessary data relevant to the driver on the dashboard while driving. The information typically displayed includes speedometer, navigation, entertainment, and more. By showing this information in the driver’s line of sight, he can maintain awareness without looking at their instruments constantly like the infotainment system or speedometer, enhancing convenience and safety while on the move.

The major challenge of the system

Initiated in military aircraft, the safety promise of this advanced technology is that, having information at eye level could be less distracting to the driver and he can keep his eyes on the road. There is no data so far as to how much information is too much information to be displayed on the transparent glass. Safety regulators have no set HUD rules concerning distracted driving.

Something that not many people do is understand whether or not such technology is useful for them as a driver. It must not be so that the driver is completely taken aback by a feature in the car, hindering his view/ease while driving. It is always advisable to test drive a car or vehicle with the HUD and decide if the technology works for you as a driver.

Benefits of the head-up display

The HUD is mainly an active feature for safety, as it does not need the driver to look at a conventional display panel time and again. HUDs now a days can also display data like navigation guidance, warning lights, and engine revs, hence, considerably reducing the number of times a driver needs to take their eyes off the road. The feature also has a feel-good and tech-savvy factor going for it, making it a dream for many car users.

Types of HUD

Presently, there are two main kinds of HUD systems available in the industry – projection-based and reflection-based. The former uses LED lights or, lately, lasers, to project data like speed, turn-by-turn navigation, rev counter, and real-time fuel consumption on a specially treated part of the windscreen of the car. With this, the final view is quite clear, with little to no light bleed happening in darker driving situations. However, this system is expensive and more complicated to execute.

Instead, the reflection-based HUD systems use a digital display that portrays the desired data reflecting on a specifically designed screen that is glass. This system is not as sharp as the previous one and also has higher light bleed when used in darker environments like a tunnel or night-time. However, what plays to its benefit is the significantly cheaper price tag and the fact that it can be used as a plug-and-play solution in most cars without much calibration. The unpretentious principle it works on has also led to this type of HUD being the most used choice of after-market HUD accessories, with a few users using a smartphone and an application to create the reflection.

The future of HUD

The future of HUDs in cars is innovative and promising. In the course of this progression, windscreen HUDs in particular are coming to the limelight. Also, Augmented Reality HUDs are gaining momentum. Warning alerts can be directly integrated into the real driving situation. Increasing consumer demands are providing additional impetus. Future generations of HUDs will not only offer comprehensive real-time information but are also conceivable in the context of autonomous vehicles as a central interface between machines and humans.

Cars with HUD

• Maruti Suzuki Baleno
• Maruti Suzuki Fronx
• Maruti Suzuki Brezza
• Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
• Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
• Kia Seltos
• Volvo XC90
• Audi A8

Understanding the digital cockpit

While touch infotainment systems have now become a must have feature in modern cars, there is another cool feature that is trending these days. It is the all-digital instrument cluster. Associated with a premium feel and experience, digital instrument clusters are among the most wanted features in the Indian automotive market today. Perhaps this is the reason why every leading car manufacturer is now equipping their cars with all-digital instrument clusters.

Cars with all-digital instrumental cluster

• Renault kwid
• Tata Tigor
• Maruti Suzuki S-Presso
• Renault Kiger
• Renault Triber
• Hyundai i20
• Nissan Magnite
• Skoda Octavia
• Hyundai Verna

Wrapping Up

Everything is modernizing and progressing in terms of technology and innovation – so is the automotive industry. The Indian car market has seen many ups and downs when it comes to selling the right car to the right group of buyers. Indians are picky when it comes to investing big and their demands are as big as their investments. It is therefore in the manufacturer’s hand to deliver what the Indian car buyers are looking for – and the digital cockpit and the modernized dashboard and infotainment system is a huge trendsetter.