Hyundai, in pursuit of making cars more “perfectly intuitive and user-friendly,” has released a working prototype of its virtual cockpit, featuring two huge display screens instead of physical hard buttons. The idea is to make the cockpit easily customisable for users, and no, it’s not an April Fool’s joke.
The two rectangular screens are configurable to meet the needs of every driver. Also, they feature haptic feedback, with two actuator modules underneath the surface that allow for stronger and more consistent feedback. The steering wheel has been fitted to an i30 test car, and Hyundai’s case is that “innovations are not limited to higher-segment cars.”
Depending on what’s shown on the instrument panel, the steering wheel displays also adapt and change depending on the driving situation. Users are able to customise the settings with up to five buttons per display, much like a smartphone.
Speaking of instrument cluster, the fully digital display has been changed to a multi-layer display (MLD), in that it features two separate displays that are stacked six millimetres from each other. This allows visual 3D effects: one part of the graphic is shown on the front display, and the other part on the rear display. When they overlap, the impression of an object in space is created, and Hyundai claims that this is less distracting for the driver. Only the most relevant information is displayed, such as speed limit.
To put the technologies to the test, Hyundai conducted a driver distraction study with the Würzburg Institute for Traffic Science (WIVW) to evaluate the new cockpit’s usability while driving. For all cases, Hyundai claims that the study clearly shows Hyundai’s new cockpit is significantly below the limits of the globally acknowledged motor vehicle safety associations AAM and NHTSA.
For the more complex use cases, all individuals tested indicated only a slight distraction, which was perceived by them as noticeable but not as strenuous or interfering with the driving task. Also, the participants praised the cockpit’s attractive design, the visual and haptic feedback, and the intuitive structure of the prototype.
At this point, Hyundai is still in the early prototype phase of the new virtual cockpit, but it notes that it’s an important milestone for the brand. It’s unclear if Hyundai will deploy this virtual cockpit into future cars, but if all goes well, it just might. Do you like what you see?
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they are trying to hard, the one will overtake japan car is China car, not Korean
u mean they should relax indeed..u are very suitable to be proton’s ceo
Don’t do it for the sake of doing. THINK!!!!
If they can’t even brain that, I prefer they relax and use their brains.
Nope.. this is too much.. and have safety issue.. you can’t feel the buttons, you have to look at the screen to choose while you are driving
Did car manufacturers know that driver only has two eyeballs?
And not only that, our eyes can on only focus on area the size of a 20sen coin at any given time and the rest is just peripheral vision.
The steering wheel should remain just that. Any controls on the wheel should be able to be manipulated by sense of feel of the thumb using buttons with positive tactile feel and response.
Manual gearbox is preferred in many countries….
you clearly never own a car. sucks to have a manual being a daily driver.
At first glance I thought it was a steering wheel made for trucks! damn fugly man
Will go the way of nintendo virtual boy
So I have to look down to my steering to see which menu am I at and where the button to press? How is this safe for driving, exactly? This is just adding technology for the sake of it without thinking things through.
First, safety is compromised. Driver has to look down to the steering to make selections. 2nd, if you notice, no airbag on the steering, another safety feature to be compromised, just to give space for these two touch screens… Oh dear….
They should include force feedback, with vibrations just like dual shock controllers. Or even better, add in multi gestures just like touchpad on Macs. Next thing you know, they will add in display fingerprint readers like smartphones. The possibilities are endless. Wow.
What I like about the cockpit is the manual gearbox instead of automatic.
If I having my soggy burger in hand, I dont think the touch screen can detect my finger movement….hahahah
Why reinvent the too complicated steering wheel with LCD touch screens? Better use fighter jet F16 joystick yolk.
High tech is good, but don’t make it so ugly.