Automotive Augmentation: How AR is Changing the Driving Experience Forever

Much has been made of digital transformation within the automotive industry, but the influence of reality technology has flown under the radar a little. However, augmented reality is already cropping up throughout the industry with a series of exciting use cases that could herald a new era of driver safety and manufacturing efficiency. 

The augmented reality (AR) market is set to surpass a value of $97.76 billion by 2028, representing a CAGR of 46.8%. With such rapid growth anticipated, it’s inevitable that the technology will make its presence felt throughout the automotive industry. 

But how could AR help to improve the driving experience and road safety? Let’s explore five key reasons why augmented reality could bring vast improvements to the world of motoring: 

Heads-Up Navigation

The role of augmented reality in the automotive industry is nothing new, and we can look back to Mercedes-Benz’s implementation of the technology in 2020 as a watershed moment in the utility of AR as a driving aid. 

Rather than using dashboard displays, Mercedes-Benz opted for an AR navigation screen within its GLE model. This utility of augmented reality enabled the display of navigational instructions and information to be displayed over objects in real-time through a live camera view within the car’s dashboard. 

The result was a driving experience that’s been unparalleled within the world of motoring. Drivers were treated to turning instructions, highlighted street names, addresses, and live terrain tracking to help provide more comprehensive levels of guidance without forcing the driver to look away from the road ahead. 

As augmented reality technology continues to mature, we’re likely to see these heads-up navigational displays become more refined, helping to deliver live feedback in an unintrusive manner to help inform the decisions of drivers. 

Augmented Car Manuals

Augmented reality car manuals can be a great innovation for owners who could benefit from more visual and in-depth guidance on how to conduct maintenance on their vehicles. 

For tasks like replacing an air filter, AR manuals can offer step-by-step immersive guidance to pave the way for flawless repair work. 

This can also help owners to better acquaint themselves with their car’s functions through visual tutorials and actionable guides. 

This mechanism could also be used in repairing damage to a vehicle. For instance, if a big data mechanism detects a cracked windshield, it could visually alert the driver to the crack, highlight the risk it poses, and suggest windshield crack repair options for owners to act on. 

AR Showrooms

There’s nothing more frustrating than having a customer visit a showroom to find that the model they’ve been researching isn’t in stock. With more cars offering vast ranges of features, colors, and mechanisms, it can be hard for interested customers to fully get to grips with the model they would like. 

This is where augmented reality and digital showrooms can come into play. By integraging detailed 3D renderings of the vehicle and its correct mod-cons, customers can interact with their chosen car and add or remove features on the fly. 

By exploring their chosen car in full augmented reality, it can vastly improve the customer experience throughout the buying process and pave the way for far greater satisfaction levels with the end result. 

Better Blindspot Control

Another major benefit in terms of driver performance and safety comes in the form of augmented parking assistance and blindspot sensors. 

During the parking process, augmented reality can help to visualize objects when reversing, adding an extra layer of protection when parking. This can also be applied to the blind spots concealed by the pillars between windows in a vehicle. By offering an augmented view of the objects around the driver when reversing, it can be a great asset in ensuring that no collisions can take place. 

Enhanced Prototype Design

Augmented reality can also be a major time-saving tool in the development of operational prototypes for new concepts. 

While modelling is a major part of the process, both augmented and virtual reality designers and endineers can offer more flexibility in modifying early-stage concepts and overcoming perceived limitations along the way.

Reality technology can help to add new ideas on to a concept in the exact way they would appear on a physical model, helping to offer more creative freedom at less of a cost. 

Furthermore, both AR and VR can deliver different means of bench testing, helping to better explore prototypes, their functionality, and durability in the face of different simulated conditions. 

Welcoming Augmented Transformation

The automotive industry has been ripe for digital transformation when it comes to both the manufacturing process and ensuring the safety of drivers, but augmented reality stands as an opportunity to improve efficiency in these fields while also saving money in cases relating to manufacturing. 

While much has been made of the growth of artificial intelligence, it may well be augmented reality that proves to be the smartest new tool at the disposal of manufacturers and motorists.