augmented reality glasses

German automobile company BMW has developed ‘Mini Augmented Vision’, which are new augmented reality glasses with head-up display for drivers to give an unobstructed view around the vehicle.

BMW said that the new glasses, which have been developed in collaboration with several Qualcomm companies, offer a ‘revolutionary’ display concept that provides improved comfort and safety.

BMW Group research and technology MINI Augmented Vision project-manager Dr Jörg Preißinger said: "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.

"Working with several Qualcomm companies, we have created an interlinked system and augmented reality eyewear with a characteristic MINI design that revolutionise the experience both in and outside the vehicle."

"We have created an interlinked system and augmented reality eyewear with a characteristic MINI design that revolutionise the experience both in and outside the vehicle."

The AR eyewear uses see-through technology and displays relevant information in the driver’s direct field of vision but without hiding other road users.

The prototype has customised, interactive functions and features destination entry for navigation and transfer to vehicle, contact-analogue navigation and points of interest, messaging, X-ray view / transparent vehicle parts and augmented parking.

With destination entry, drivers can select destination points when outside the vehicle and later on transfer them to the vehicle.

Head-up display functions include display of speed, speed limits in the eyewear ensuring that the information is in the driver’s primary field of view.

Through messaging feature, a small icon is shown in the eyewear when a message is received, which can be read out by the car while driving for safety.

X-ray view / transparent vehicle parts feature gives a virtual view through parts of the vehicle serves to render external areas or objects concealed by the car visible.

Augmented parking projects the images from a camera housed in the mirror into the eyewear and thus facilitates parking.

Designworks created the design and colour-concept of the eyewear for MINI, according to BMW.

Image: BMW developed the new MINI Augmented Vision in collaboration with several Qualcomm companies. Photo: courtesy of BMW Group.