Road crashes are soaring in the United States, increasing by 18.4% in the first half of 2021, Reuters reports. Around 20,160 people died in car crashes in this time frame, up by 3,140 from 2020. As road fatalities reach crisis levels, automakers are taking advantage of augmented reality (AR) technology to improve safety for drivers. By facilitating and enhancing key safety features, AR technology can help drivers with a host of tasks, including navigation and detecting potential road hazards.

AR app for BMWs

Basemark, a Finnish software firm specializing in car software, recently revealed its innovative AR technologies will be available in select BMW iX models ultimately to improve the “ease, accuracy, and safety of navigation”. The over-video application combines car sensor data with computer vision to generate AR-based information overlays that appear on the infotainment screens of the vehicle’s Central Information Display (CIP).

The car’s front-view camera continually streams live real-time footage of the driver’s surroundings to the touch screen complete with interactive arrows telling the driver what actions they need to take (like making a turn or switching lanes, for example). The screen will also be split, so drivers can view SatNav overlays alongside the video (primarily in motorway and urban driving environments).

Basemark is also currently working to improve the ability of the sensors to provide drivers with even greater details of their surroundings. They previewed their AR with an object detection prototype at this year’s CES: this technology combines a raw camera and radar data with sensor fusion to help improve driver safety in poor-visibility driving conditions. In the future, the company also hopes to incorporate the tech into a heads-up display (HUD) visible above windshields, thereby helping drivers keep their eyes on the road.

AR windshields for safer navigation

In fact, Audi’s Q4 e-Tron is already set to feature HUD technology developed in partnership with Apostera. The innovative HUD product is an AR windshield able to provide an accurate augmented image of the driver’s environment in real-time. For example, key information, such as traffic signs, speed limits, and data concerning the driver assist system will be displayed on the AR windshield.

Moreover, floating symbols will also appear on the windshield at a distance of around 30 feet away; these symbols are intended to give drivers advance warnings of upcoming lane departures or nearby cars to be aware of when using adaptive cruise control, for example.

Advanced driver-assistance systems get an AR makeover

Advanced driver-assistance systems are increasingly used to improve road safety with safety features, such as lane departure warnings, blind-spot warnings, electronic stability control, and adaptive cruise control. Blindspot warnings, in particular, are proven to cut lane-change collisions by 14%, while front emergency braking reduces the risk of crashes by 50%. Although technological innovations are helping improve road safety, collisions are still a common occurrence.

According to the NSC, road accidents cost an average of $8,900 in vehicle damage and, in cases of accidents resulting in disabling injury, $78,900 in medical bills. After a road collision, it’s essential individuals involved contact an experienced car accident lawyer. Expert legal advice can help you understand your legal options and help you protect your rights, FVFlawfirm.com explains.

Moreover, despite the road safety improvements offered by advanced driver-assistance systems, drivers still haven’t necessarily put all their trust in them, leaving a gap that technology is trying to bridge. For example, Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung and global tech leader specializing in connected car technology, is set to release software that helps drivers build trust with advanced driver-assistance systems and therefore increase their usage.

“If you’re turning on some functionality, you as a driver don’t have an understanding of why the car behaves in a certain way,” says Andrey Golubinskiy, senior director of Harman’s advanced driver-assistance systems strategic business unit. “So we solve it in the way that we constantly visualize what the car sees and provide object recognition for the driver.
We also visualize what the car thinks, so you know what the car is going to do next.” Harman’s software visualizes key data for the driver, meaning they’ll understand the reasons behind a sudden lane change or route detour, for example.

Moreover, Harman also intends to incorporate audio alerts alongside visual object recognition technology. “That’s pretty helpful because everything that goes through the ears ends up in your brain much faster and is processed much faster than any visual,” said Golubinskiy. “So this kind of immersive combination of augmented reality, mixed reality, visuals, and audio is the next evolutionary step.”

Subscription services

Subscription services are another emerging trend in-car tech helping to improve road safety. Volvo, for example, will be releasing “Ride Pilot” in partnership with Luminar (a Lidar manufacturer) and Zenseact (an AR software developer). This self-driving feature will be offered to cars in California initially as a subscription upgrade before rolling out in other areas in the future.

“Ride Pilot” uses Luminar’s lidar sensors to generate a 3D map of objects surrounding the car on the road, while Zenseact’s software (along with other sensors) powers the self-driving system. The software will update periodically automatically. Additionally, General Motors has also released a host of in-car subscription services. In particular, its Onstar Security subscription service features roadside assistance, emergency response dispatching, hands-free calling, remote diagnostics tools, in-car security, and turn-by-turn navigation.

An On-Star subscription begins from $30 a month and is even available to people with non-GM cars. General Motors also recently released a hands-free driving Super Cruise system, which will be available in 23 of their vehicle models by 2023. This subscription-based system uses cutting-edge technology, radar sensors, cameras, and GPS to facilitate safe, hands-free driving. It even has a driver attention system, which monitors the driver to make sure they’re still paying attention to the road.

AR technology is developing at a rapid rate to improve car safety. A host of major car manufacturers like BMW, Audi, and Volvo, in partnership with AR software companies, are racing to develop cutting-edge AR products to cater to a growing market.