BMW Miniature Head-Up Display

BMW Shaping the Future Part 11

August 22, 2003 3:13 PM
Filed Under: BMW

Press Release

BMW Miniature Head-Up Display

Innovations in Formula One and Sailing

The latest and most advanced BMW technology from Silicon Valley.
Efficient presentation of information while concentrating on the sport in full.
Miniature display helping to save time and boost safety.
Ideal for top-flight sport.

A highly advanced, innovative technology from BMW's Technology Office in Palo Alto, Silicon Valley, is revolutionising communication concepts in the world of sailing: A miniature head-up display in the sunglasses of the yachtsmen in the ORACLE BMW Racing Team allows visual presentation of a wide range of information, messages being presented directly in the user's line of vision. This helps to save valuable time and, in the process, ensures extra safety, the user being able to process visual information and concentrate in full on his job all in one. Measuring just 6 x 8 millimeters, miniature head-up display comes with a high-resolution real-color presentation system based on active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) technology. The key function of the display lies in a unique lens element, the so-called Free Form Prism (FFP) enabling the user to see superimposed images or alphanumeric information with optimum clarity. Ralf Schumacher's helmet with Head-up display

Ralf Schumacher's helmet with Head-up display

The data presented in Ralf Schumacher's Formula One prototype helmet varies according to traffic conditions and the respective situation, for example by transmitting safety messages such as "oil in bend 2" or certain flag signals as well as emergency precautions. The miniature head-up display projects the appropriate "transparent" picture through the visor on the helmet to the front end of the car. Application of this miniature display technology in Formula One is no longer a technical challenge, so that now everything just depends on the rules and regulations applied by FIA, the World Motorsport Association. Benefiting from the miniature head-up display in their sunglasses, the members of the ORACLE BMW Racing Team receive wireless racing information in real time, an on-board interface feeding data to the display through the telematrics system and tailoring the information in each case to the yachtsman's specific requirements. This direct projection of information on the racing behavior of their ship allows the sailors to concentrate even more on their specific tasks and duties. And since, wearing their glasses, they are no longer required to focus on conventional instruments at various points on the yacht, they gain valuable time and are able to act and react quickly and efficiently. This wireless system is designed to operate only on the sailing boat itself, both the rules and the limited range of the system as such making it impossible to transmit data from outside of the boat to the receivers in the sunglasses. Network-based innovation management serving the cause of technological progress. The miniature head-up display was developed by the BMW Group's westernmost Research and Innovation Center Office right in the middle of Palo Alto in Silicon Valley, in close cooperation with BMW Designworks/USA. Since 1998, 16 highly qualified specialists - information experts, logistics engineers, chemists and various other engineers in numerous disciplines - have been working at the BMW Technology Office on one common objective: to develop the latest technologies as quickly as possible for mobile applications. "The Technology Office puts us right in the forefront of the latest developments, enabling us to use the fast pace of development in Silicon Valley, with cutting-edge communication and information technologies", states Dr. Burkhard GÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¶schel, BMW Group Board Member for Development and Purchasing. In particular, the BMW Technology Office focuses on new technologies of a highly innovative nature.

Source: Text and photos courtesy BMW AG

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