Mercedes bringing fighter jet like heads up display to its car using Augmented Reality!

Posted On August 23, 2021

Remember when the only way to choose and buy a vehicle was to go from garage to garage, pacing relentlessly around forecourts and haggling with salesmen? A car is a high-involvement, high-cost purchase for most people, and it also reflects self-expression, so all of the interactions that surround it should reflect that.

Augmented Reality now enables car buyers to view cars in 3D from all directions instead of physically going to see them. Consumers can now make nuanced decisions without having to leave the house by getting a realistic 360-degree view of a vehicle, both inside and out, as well as seeing how it drives.

Several car manufacturers have already adopted VR and AR technology. With research findings that 59% of consumers rely on personalisation to influence their purchasing decisions, the automotive industry like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Honda and Toyota capitalised these new strategies to create a more immersive experience for customers. These companies are now using Augmented Reality technology to showcase their cars in new and creative ways, anywhere and at any time.

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐬-𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐳 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐑 / 𝐕𝐑 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

Mercedes-Benz is using Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality platform to help with its manufacturing operations, initiate corporate training as well as a sales revolution. They integrated augmented reality into their training programmes. Employees can observe and comprehend complex structures in greater detail using the headset, and can inspect internal workings without having to dismantle the vehicle. The sets are being used by employees to train their colleagues on various manufacturing tasks.

InfiVR also brings such efficient and cost effective psychophysics based virtual reality solutions to solve training problems.

InfiVR is working with leading automobile companies to take their training programs to the next level providing them virtual reality based safety training, assembly and quality inspection training.

Recently launched Mercedes-Benz-S-Class, is equipped with an augmented reality heads-up display (AR HUD), which projects navigational prompts and information about driving assistance systems into the area ahead of the car, appearing to blend them in. The device also displays the driver’s current direction in real time, highlighting the correct turning point in a complicated intersection, projecting house numbers, or representing traffic lights that are out of the driver’s view. Currently at Mercedes-Benz, Augmented reality is already at hand for S-Class, E-Class and GLB customers.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.

Since 2016, Audi has used some kind of virtual reality in its dealerships. They are shifting away from real-world cars but still allowing sales through virtual experiences. They incorporated Virtual Experience in the showrooms which not only resulted in reduction of showroom numbers but could also significantly increase showroom numbers as set up costs are greatly reduced. As a result, The Audi virtual reality experience allowed prospective customers to see the entire range of Audi vehicles and options all in one place.

Along with the showrooms, Virtual Reality also changed their sales. When it came to viewing every part of the product, it allowed salespeople to show off not only the car, but also any new innovations that are incorporated into the models being displayed. This means that prospective customers can put on a headset and experience whatever vehicle they want in a safe setting. It enables them to customise the car according to their preferences, within the parameters of the available choices.

Recently, Audi India has also introduced the all-new myAudi Connect app, which allows owners to be more connected to their vehicles than ever before. Customers can have AR experience of Audi Cars at home on this app and Virtual experience is available at the Audi dealership. In the virtual reality experience, customers can not only look at the car from the outside, but also sit inside it and manipulate the various controls on the dashboard. The VR headset’s light and sound effects add to the immersive experience, making it a more realistic and natural feel. In 2021, the majority of car buyers choose to perform at least part of the transaction remotely, and COVID-19 regulations are driving more and more people online. Each customer gets an interactive virtual showroom and a practical test-drive experience thanks to Augmented Reality and Virtual reality.

𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.

Honda has begun to integrate augmented and virtual reality technology into the design, marketing, and use of their vehicles in recent years. Honda started using augmented reality to showcase their new car models in their Auto Show at Los Angeles. Beginning with Honda Accord Sedan, The entire experience of customers was driven by augmented reality technology, from the TLX to the surrounding world. In this case, augmented reality was used to help Honda generate buzz for the TLX and engage with customers in a fun and engaging way.

Honda added devices that can detect pedestrians in all directions using sensors mounted around the vehicle’s exterior. If a pedestrian is identified, the device can display an avatar on the windshield using augmented reality technology. This will notify the driver of the pedestrian’s position, allowing them to prevent a collision. Since the sensors sense pedestrians in all directions, the device improves drivers’ situational awareness by assisting them in locating pedestrians they would not have seen otherwise.

Honda not only focused on the automotive industry but also used augmented reality to give it back to the community. For patients at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, the automaker used augmented reality technology to create “The Magic Snow Globe” experience in 2018. The technology was used to transport children into a snow globe, where they could engage with a variety of holiday characters and other elements. Honda was able to provide the pediatric patients at this hospital with an unforgettable holiday experience.

𝐓𝐨𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐚 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐑 𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲.

Toyota’s immersive AR experience sets the tone for the auto industry’s move toward digital transformation in the form of AR and MR because they bring virtual cars to customers all over the United States so they can have a firsthand look at them. The best thing is that the customers won’t need users to download a special app to their mobile device to do so. Instead, interactive media can be used to offer the AR experience on a large scale. For example, users can launch Toyota’s AR experience by simply clicking a banner ad on a social media page.

Toyota is also improving teamwork by using augmented reality and virtual reality to bind remote and onsite workers more easily than ever before. It has been shown that creating a sensitive virtual environment for workers to communicate digitally:

• Reduce the time it takes for approvals to be granted.
• Increase the project’s timetable by allowing team members to react more quickly.
• When more and more teams relocate offsite, improve workplace morale.
• Increase the amount of contact between remote and in-house employees.

Toyota developed the virtual reality driving simulator called TeenDrive365. The simulator, which is designed to be used with the Oculus Rift, allows students to experience driving a car in virtual reality before getting on the road. TeenDrive365 teaches trainees to be vigilant on the road and avoid distractions like texting or talking to irritating friends while driving, thanks to realistic 3D graphics, animations, sounds, and complete simulations of road traffic. As Toyota provides a virtual experience to their customers and employees.

InfiVR is one of the leading AR / VR companies working very closely with automobile giants by consulting and providing solutions like; VR Safety Training modules, enhancing marketing experience by creating Virtual Automotive Dealerships, Assembly line production aid using augmented reality technologies enabled through head gears like HoloLens and Improving Sales experience through assistive tools for Sales Executives. Infi AVR Platform presents the power of augmented reality and virtual reality in the hands of automotive associates, engineers, designers, and assembly line workers.