Land Rover pioneers 'invisible car' technology

Luxury automotive manufacturer Land Rover is developing a pioneering technology that provides the driver full visibility of what is underneath and in front of the car, with total clarity of otherwise hidden obstacles. It is being developed to give Land Rover drivers a digital vision of the terrain ahead by making the front of the car ‘virtually’ invisible, said the company in a statement. Cameras located in the vehicle’s grille capture data used to feed a Head-Up Display, effectively creating a ‘see-through’ view of the terrain through the bonnet and engine bay, breaking new ground in visual driver assistance. The technology, named 'Transparent Bonnet' by its creators, shows how advanced technology will take Land Rover’s unrivalled capability to the next level, said the statement. The technology enables a driver climbing a steep incline or manoeuvring in a confined space to see an augmented reality view capturing not only the terrain in front of the car but also the angle and position of the front wheels. Dr Wolfgang Epple, the director of Research and Technology for Jaguar Land Rover said: "We believe the next 25 years will be the most exciting and dynamic the automotive industry has ever experienced. There will be huge strides in environmental innovation, in safety and capability." “As our vehicles become more capable and offer increasing autonomy off-road, we will ensure the driver has the confidence to allow the car to continue to progress, over any terrain. We are developing new technologies including the Transparent Bonnet to give drivers an augmented view of reality to help them tackle anything from the toughest off-road route to the tight confines of an urban car park,” he added. Opening the doors to Jaguar Land Rover’s advanced research, the Discovery Vision Concept car is a design and technology showcase which will be unveiled in full at the New York International Auto Show on April 16. The concept demonstrates Land Rover’s design vision for a future family of premium SUVs built on Land Rover’s key principles of emotive design, unrivalled capability and ultimate versatility, said the auto giant in its statement. From the city to the sand dunes, Land Rover’s new, driver-assisting technology will enable safer, smarter and more enjoyable driving in the SUVs of tomorrow, it added. Source: TradeArabia