Mini experiments with Augmented Vision technology

Set for a Shanghai Auto Show debut, Mini has offered a look at an Augmented Vision system that it says could have future production implications. Based on specially designed glasses developed in concert with Qualcomm, the system projects pertinent information onto the lenses and into the driver’s field of view without impacting the ability to see people and vehicles on the road.

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While the full capabilities of Mini’s Augmented Vision remain a work in process, even at this stage, its basic functions include everything from presenting navigation cues and head-up display data to denoting points of interest on the route, reading aloud incoming text messages and providing warnings of potential unseen roadside dangers. An X-Ray View capability — similar to the 360-degree Virtual Windshield technology being developed by JLR – integrates the system’s processors with an array of cameras mounted outside of the vehicle to allow a simulated look through doors and pillars as well as support a parking function that shows how far the vehicle is from the curb.

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“We have created an interlinked system and augmented reality eyewear with a characteristic Mini design that revolutionizes the experience both in and outside the vehicle,” noted Dr. Jörg Preissinger, project manager Mini Augmented Vision, BMW Group research and technology. As to its potential, Jay Wright, Vice President, Qualcomm Connected Experiences, Inc. added “Mini Augmented Vision offers a compelling example of what’s possible today, and what we can expect in the future.

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