MINI says its augmented reality glasses concept could improve safety and comfort while driving and will show off its new technology at Shanghai Motor Show.

MINI HAS REVEALED its augmented reality glasses ahead of their debut at the Shanghai Motor Show this coming week. 

“MINI Augmented Vision gives an insight into how intelligent connectivity between a MINI car and eyewear into which relevant content is projected might work in the future,” explains Dr. Jörg Preißinger, project-manager MINI Augmented Vision, BMW Group research and technology. 

How does it work? It’s pretty simple, really. Using see-through technology, the augmented reality eyewear shows relevant information in the driver’s direct field of vision but without concealing other road users, thereby serving to increase safety and comfort while driving. It’s a similar technology to Jaguar Land Rover’s virtual windscreen.

The following functions will be projected into the field of view with MINI Augmented Vision:

•Destination entry for navigation and transfer to vehicle: Selecting destination points when outside the vehicle, then transferring them to the vehicle.

•First Mile / Last Mile: Navigation display from the current location to the vehicle or from the vehicle to the final destination.

•Head-up display functions: Display of speed, speed limits etc. in the eyewear so the information is in the driver’s primary field of view, with data always shown in same place above steering wheel to make sure that no road users are concealed from sight.

•Contact-analogue navigation and points of interest: Reality is enhanced by contact-analogue navigation arrows “on” the road, as well as display of points of interest along the route, such as open parking spaces. The driver´s attention can always stay focused on the traffic.

•Messaging: A small icon is shown in the eyewear when a message is received. The SMS/message can then be read out by the car while driving for safety.

•X-Ray View / transparent vehicle parts: A virtual view through parts of the vehicle (such as A-pillars and doors) serves to render external areas or objects concealed by the car visible.

•Augmented Parking: This facilitates parking by projecting the images from a camera housed in the (farside) mirror into the eyewear. In this way, the distance from the curb can be clearly and easily ascertained.