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Mercedes-Benz has been integrating AR technology into its navigation systems since the introduction of the A-Class in 2018.
Pedro Ribeiro Monteiro, director of infotainment systems at Mercedes’ R&D department, said the technology helps drivers find their way in complex traffic situations.
“MBUX Augmented Reality for navigation connects the virtual world with the real one,” Monteiro said.
“The technology shows graphical navigation and traffic information on live images.”
A camera in the windshield films the area in front of the vehicle, and that recording runs in the media display. Highlighted additional information, such as house numbers or street names, further eases the orientation.
“The system also supports you at traffic lights,” he added. “If you are in the first position, it will display the current traffic light situation.”
Monteiro said the company has been continually improving its navigation systems, pointing to the AR head-up display in the S-Class and EQS upper-premium models as the latest evolution. The systems in those vehicles integrate driving functions with AR visualizations.
“This head-up display complements your field of vision with virtual cues without distracting you,” he said.
“For example, large directional arrows hover over the intersection where you need to turn. You know immediately what to do.”
Monteiro said the goal is to use AR technology wherever it is helpful for the customer, leading to more comfort by reducing the level of stress while driving.
“When it comes to AR and heads-up displays, both driver distraction and safety are important aspects when designing the user experience. We consider them crucial for us when developing our AR systems,” he said.
“We look at AR as an important technology for intuitive navigation, and we plan to introduce new features and improvements in the future.”
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