Startup Distance Technologies has developed a prototype of an innovative display that projects a full-color 3D image onto a car's windshield. As The Verge notes, the device is capable of displaying a wide range of information – from standard HUD elements to complex 3D visualizations and video from the rear-view camera.
The technology uses an LCD panel that projects a transparent image onto the windshield with a special reflective coating. The system is equipped with a parallax barrier and cameras to track the driver's gaze, which allows you to create a convincing spatial image.
The development has a number of advantages, including the ability to display a wide range of information, integration with lidar and other sensors to create AR elements , the potential to display virtual road signs, as well as voice and gesture control.
However, the prototype is not without flaws. Among them – high cost, low brightness (100 nits versus the required 10,000 nits for a sunny day), problems with the eye tracking system and discomfort with prolonged use.
Distance Technologies is in talks with car manufacturers and is considering the possibility of using the technology in the military transport and aviation. Despite the significant potential, the technology needs significant refinement for practical use in cars.