[Las Vegas (USA) = AVING News] While the world’s largest tech exhibition ‘CES 2023’ was held in Las Vegas, USA, HARMAN, an automotive technology company that provides automobile-centered consumer experiences, held ‘Harman Explore ( HARMAN EXPLORE’ showcase event was held to showcase a large number of innovative battlefield technologies and new products.
At this event, which will be held from the 4th to the 7th (local time) at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, the technologies and products introduced by Harman are △Ready Care △ There were a total of 6, including Ready Display △Ready on Demand △Ready Upgrade △Ready Vision △Sound and Vibration Sensor + External Microphone. .
Harman explained that the keyword ‘Ready’, which is commonly emphasized in these products, means that they are fully prepared to lead the global electronics market by having both technical completeness and a system for mass production.
‘Ready Care’, which is considered the most core product, aims to provide a safe mobility experience by simultaneously creating various in-vehicle driving interventions and responses to alleviate driver drowsiness and distraction.
Through in-vehicle radar detection technology, vital signs such as the driver’s heart rate, breathing rate, and heart rate variation level can be measured non-contactly. The biggest feature of the driver’s infrared camera and internal radar is that they use ‘Remote Photoplethysmography’ technology, so there is no need to use or wear a separate device. These technologies are expected to help develop applications related to safety and well-being in cars in the future.
Sensors for ready care can also determine the presence or absence of children left in the car (CPD). This is also effective in preventing safety accidents that may occur among infants, young children, and the elderly who are vulnerable to mobility. Additionally, because these technologies are scheduled to become safety requirements for NCAP, high demand is expected in the future.
For the first time in the industry, ‘Eyes and Mind on Road’ technology, which measures the driver’s visual and mental cognitive state in real time, was also applied. Through this, the driver’s eye activity, neuroscience, and psychological state are identified to determine the driver’s distraction.
In addition, a software development kit (SDK) that supports an application program interface (API) provides feedback automatic control functions and enables vehicle functions provided by OEMs and third parties as part of customized driving intervention according to driver conditions. It can also be integrated into care solutions.
In addition, it is expected to be a scalable solution that can flexibly respond to various requirements by allowing OEMs to configure specific software bundles, sensors, and computing platforms on their own.
‘Ready Display’, which has a reasonable price and the performance of automotive displays commercialized in the existing market, is based on Harman’s exclusive ‘Neo QLED Auto Display’ implemented with Samsung’s patented technology. It is characterized by high contrast, high brightness, wide color gamut, and perfect black using automotive Cadmium-free Quantum Dot film and mini LED backlight technology.
Through this, it provides an excellent visual experience in the vehicle at a competitive price compared to existing OLED-based display products. It has the advantage of an efficiently designed quantum dot film for vehicles and has fewer halo effects, and its power consumption is also significantly lower, making it possible to watch content at the level of home entertainment in a vehicle.
Additionally, Neo QLED Auto has a low optical distance and an all-in-one die-cast body, so it can effectively reduce the thickness of the display. This allows for much more freedom in design than typical TFT-LCD display products, and OEM companies can easily integrate the display when designing vehicle interiors.
Rigid OLED (OLED), which does not bend, is also included in Ready Display’s portfolio. It is expected to immerse viewers in a cutting-edge optical experience and provide a sophisticated form factor to satisfy exclusive design aspirations at a more affordable price than competing products.
They also introduced ‘Ready on Demand’, a software platform that provides brand audio value, function enhancement and upgrade, and profitability model as an application (app) that guarantees easy usability. Unlike existing car audio systems, which generally cannot be expanded with additional functions after production, new functions can be added at any time through continuous updates.
Ready on Demand integrates the brand’s audio DNA into the user interface and provides consumers with enhanced connectivity, creating unique partnership opportunities with automakers in the market. OEM companies can continue to generate profits not only through first-time vehicle buyers but also existing owners, and consumers can maintain a high level of satisfaction with the electronic system for a long period of time. Additionally, the personalized system consisting of individual settings and updates can be used together in multiple vehicles.
In addition, Ready on Demand is pre-integrated with Ready upgrade applications such as HARMAN AudioworX’s audio processing library, as well as the HARMAN Ignite cloud for e-commerce and content downloads. This allows Harman Ready Upgrade partner companies to minimize system development and optimization requirements.
Furthermore, it provides improved communication and interaction between vehicle occupants and outsiders, and activates innovative and proprietary sound technology as part of augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (XR). This provides listeners with a virtual listening environment and is effective in creating an atmosphere with music and sounds optimized for individual tastes.
‘Ready Upgrade’ aims to efficiently maintain the latest status throughout the vehicle life cycle.
As part of this, Harman provides a total of three types of next-generation ‘Cockpit Domain Controllers’ to OEMs every 18 to 24 months to support the latest functions with the latest technology. Additionally, each generation of domain controllers is fully compatible with previous versions, allowing OEMs to easily put next-generation systems into production lines and provide hardware and feature upgrades, allowing OEMs to access new business models.
Ready Upgrade continues to provide software such as instrument clusters and infotainment applications to provide customers with a differentiated digital cockpit experience optimized for their vehicle brand. In addition, it supports forward-backward compatibility with next-generation hardware to enable upgrades of the entire system, and boasts compatibility with Harman’s ‘Ready’ system.
In addition, Harman Ignite cloud functions are integrated in advance, and the latest software such as security patches can be provided over the air (OTA). Furthermore, Harman provides an ecosystem of compatible first-party and third-party software applications and services to further shorten time to market.
In addition, Ready Upgrade is compatible with third-party accessories beyond Harman’s technology ecosystem, including displays, tuners, amplifiers, speakers, and microphones. Additionally, to help consumers create differentiated riding experiences, we provide a set of low-code and no-code software development tools that can be used to apply to vehicle networks and maintain performance without significant software development efforts.
‘Ready Vision’ is an augmented reality (AR)-based solution that integrates head-up display hardware, software, and sensor technology to improve driver safety and awareness. It integrates with automotive sensors to provide immersive audio-visual warnings and provides important knowledge and information to drivers in a way that does not interfere with driving.
Turn-by-turn directions displayed on the windshield serve as a bridge between physical reality and digital images and improve driver perception. In addition, Ready Vision utilizes computer vision and machine learning for 3D object detection to accurately deliver collision warnings, blind spot warnings, lane departure, lane change assistance, and low speed zone notifications in a way that does not interfere with driving.
The innovative design, which implements a wide viewing angle, deep virtual image, optimal eye box, and high brightness along with a compact package size and wedgeless design, provides significant cost savings to OEMs. In addition, Ready Vision is available in two options, a 12×4 screen and a 15×5 large screen with patented technology and IP (intellectual property rights) applied.
The software environment based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is integrated with computer vision to display accurate information in a timely manner and boasts low latency for real-time 3D object detection to prioritize relevant objects without interfering with the driver’s field of view. Display. Ready Vision’s AR software easily integrates multiple sensors such as navigation, ADAS and microphones and generates smart and timely audio-visual alerts.
Ready Vision integrates Harman’s directional and spatial audio into its software platform to improve driver perception and enable faster response to road hazards, while providing intuitive and clear prompts to ensure the driver’s field of vision does not stray from the road ahead.
In addition, it provides accurate updates at the right time based on the driver’s profile, interests, and preferences, and provides real-time points of interest (POIs) appropriate for each situation, such as road names and addresses. Ready Vision’s real-time (ultra-low latency) audio-visual warnings help drivers respond to a variety of traffic information and situations.
The newly introduced ‘Sound and Vibration Sensor (SVS)’ and ‘External Microphone’ products have future applications ranging from improving the perception of external sounds inside a vehicle to enhancing communication between drivers, passengers and emergency vehicles on the road. It provides oriented functions.
As autonomous driving systems develop, the demand for and technological completeness of external sensors that increase awareness of vehicle occupants and external vehicle sounds are increasing. Harman unveiled an integrated sensor solution that provides acoustic monitoring that meets the needs and trends.
Harman’s SVS is a fully developed design that can be installed on the outside of the vehicle in a non-exposed manner without damaging the vehicle design. In addition, the external microphone consists of a single or array and is designed to withstand the external environmental factors of the vehicle.
Additionally, these products provide accurate voice recognition and acoustic detection performance with a wide frequency response, enabling potential AI functions such as target acoustic wave detection in Ready Vision.
These new products and additional innovative technologies from Harman will be demonstrated at the Harman Explore Showcase during CES 2023. Through this Harman Explore Showcase, Harman is expected to demonstrate how new products apply enhanced functions and implement the latest technologies into an automobile-centered consumer experience.
