Ford Receives Multi-Plane Automotive AR Patent
With the use of augmented reality, the immersive tool intends to make driving safer and more enjoyable for users.
One of the patents held by American carmaker Ford Motor Company for an AR image-generating device was recently approved. Rumour has it that the US automaker would include the multiplane augmented reality technology into future models from Ford, as published on November 9th with the serial number 0360331.
The announcement follows the car manufacturer’s recent spate of patents. Many of these initiatives seek to increase the variety of applications and integrations for immersive technology, such as augmented reality (AR)-assisted parking, sharing, glare reduction from the sun, and car location and search.
In an attempt to update its lineup of products with interactive elements, spatial computation, and enhanced security for drivers, Ford is planning to integrate AR technologies into its forthcoming vehicles.
Using them, dashboards will be equipped with heads-up displays (HMDs), which provide drivers with vital information about their current driving circumstances in real-time.
Using data collected from the road, Ford’s newest patented technology will advise drivers on how to safely navigate around barriers, animals, and other potential dangers.
During peak driving times, such as the holidays and other times of heavy traffic, augmented reality technology might potentially prevent accidents and save lives.
For instance, the RAC reports that road fatalities in the UK have increased by around 10% and are now back to levels seen before the epidemic. Since 2021, there has been an approximately 8% rise in serious injuries.
During the last ten years, the amount of fatalities and injuries from traffic fatalities has been mostly stable. 2013 has seen 1,770 deaths so far.
A total of 42,939 lives were lost in 2021 collisions involving 39,508 automobiles, according to the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Many people in car-dependent countries, like the US, rely on augmented and virtual reality (AR) technologies to improve their driving safety and road awareness.
The use of extended reality (XR) technology by Ford has increased in recent months as the company seeks to better connect its consumers.
This year in September, the American carmaker unveiled a suite of nineteen trademarks and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Among the many advancements were computerised replicas of its apparel and product lines. There was also a preview of a digital content marketplace that will soon be available.
The Ford Mustang, Bronco, Explorer, and F-150 Lightning were among the digital twins that existed as NFTs. Artwork, music, and videos would round out the material, along with downloadable virtual goods.
The announcement follows a slew of XR companies’ forays into the car safety industry, where they are improving drivers’ UX.
As an example, in April of this year, the Chinese AR company Raythink unveiled an AR-HUD system that allows drivers to use cutting-edge 3D navigational technology with lifelike AR images.
The OpticalCore imaging technology developed by Raythink is at the heart of the solution; it allows for the direct transmission to windscreens of data pertaining to drivers’ destinations, as well as navigation, speed, assistance, and more.
With this technology, drivers can focus on the road ahead thanks to a fully-functional head-up display (HUD) that has a large three-lane field of vision (FoV), improved picture quality thanks to laser beam scanning, and reduced battery consumption.
