Volvo Cars has invested in Spectralics, an optical imaging startup, to develop a technology that turns the entire windshield into a display. The technology is an improvement over current HUD displays, which Volvo says will help improve the driving experience by keeping the driver's eyes on the road at all times, increasing safety.
Spectralics utvecklar en optisk film som kan appliceras på genomskinliga ytor av alla former och storlekar, till exempel böjda bilvindrutor eller fönster. Filmen är ett flerskiktskomplex (MLTC) som visar bilder.
Volvo's system relies not only on display film, but also on blind-proof zone cameras, sensors, and wind screens that display navigation information and real-time speed. The front glass can also display images taken by the car's sensors and cameras, superimposed on a realistic picture, at night or when vision is poor. In this way, drivers can safely drive in thick fog or rain or snow, timely judge obstacles ahead and prevent rear-end collisions.
Foreign media are concerned about the cost of the technology. In some high latitudes, it is easy to have strong winds in winter, which may carry sand and gravel to damage windshields. In addition, ice can fall from the roof and break windshields in winter. If Volvo's display technology is too expensive, the cost of replacing the windshield could be prohibitive.
