Infotainment That's Light Years Ahead

In-vehicle infotainment systems have rapidly evolved over the decades, starting with little more than a radio and a few dials. The audio systems steadily improved over the years, and more of the vehicle’s capabilities could also be controlled through a centralized interface until we finally arrived at the large touch screens of today that can play virtually any type of media, alert us to maintenance issues, and tweak the vehicle’s performance for different conditions.

But since the 2010s, progress seems to have slowed quite a bit. Each year we are met with new car models that have small, incremental updates to their infotainment systems. Have we just reached peak infotainment? Nowhere to go from here? Engineers at BMW Group do not think that is the case, and they have developed a prototype infotainment system called Dynamic Interior Light (the marketing team has apparently not been involved yet) to prove it.

What makes Dynamic Interior Light different is that it is not tied to a fixed position on the dashboard or a seat back. The unusual design of the system makes it possible for any part of the car’s interior (or even anyone’s body) to become a display or user interface. Instead of relying on traditional static screens, this concept utilizes projection-based technology that can display content dynamically throughout the vehicle’s cabin.

The hardware components of the Dynamic Interior Light system include a projection unit, sensors, and an actuation system. Projection is powered by a Cremotech Laser Beam Pro C200 unit. A mirror is integrated into the system to reflect the light at a 90-degree angle, minimizing the overall height of the unit. For sensing, the system is equipped with an RGB camera that handles calibration and object tracking through computer vision techniques, alongside a LeapMotion sensor that tracks hand movements. The LeapMotion has a wide field of view (140 x 120 degrees) and an operational range of 60 centimeters, making it ideal for rear-seat passenger interaction.

The control system is powered by a Unity project, which interfaces with a mobile app through MQTT protocols for easy user control. The projection movement is managed by two Dynamixel XM servos, providing 360 degrees of pan and 75 degrees of tilt, with a high resolution of 0.088 degrees. These servos are controlled via an OpenCM microcontroller, ensuring precise adjustments and smooth operation of the projection system.

The team mounted a Dynamic Interior Light installation to the moonroof of a BMW X7 to demonstrate its capabilities. It was shown to be capable of controlling functions like audio and phone calls via projected interfaces on an individual’s hand. Other demonstrations showed that it can make any surface a display screen, and it can even track the position of a book to light up the pages for passengers.

There are a lot of interesting possibilities for a system like this, but it is still in the prototype stages. Before it could be used in a production car, the size of the unit would need to be reduced. Moreover, the realities of being in a vehicle mean that forces will be placed on the device’s gears from time to time, which may cause drift. That could require the mechanisms to be recalibrated as the experience deteriorates. It is too early to tell if we will ever see Dynamic Interior Light on a car at the dealership, but in any case, it is an interesting imagining of what could be.