Investigate how in-car augmented reality can improve or influence the traffic flow and safety in the Dutch traffic.

Investigate how in-car augmented reality can improve or influence the traffic flow and safety in the Dutch traffic.

Spiekermann, P.T.F.

Verlinden, J.C. (mentor)
Van Heur, R.J.H.G. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Design Engineering

Master of Science Integrated Product Design

2011-07-07

The project described in this thesis is named “Investigate how in-car augmented reality can improve or influence the traffic flow and safety in the Dutch traffic”. It strives to research whether visual in-car augmented reality can be beneficial for the traffic flow and safety in the Dutch traffic, and thus Rijkswaterstaat. Visual augmented reality is the field of study that focuses upon adding computer generated images or information to real objects or environments. Instead of showing information on isolated displays, data will be projected in the field of vision of the user. Unlike virtual reality, augmented reality does not create a simulation of reality. Instead, it takes a real object or environment as the foundation and couples it with virtual data and objects. Augmented reality enriches a person’s view on reality by showing information about an object or environment that he/she would not see without augmented reality. Visual augmented reality is becoming an increasingly popular interface on commercial smart mobile devices like the smartphone and tablet. Many industrial companies believe in augmented reality to be the “next big thing”. Expectations are that augmented reality will become big on the smartphone platform, via more interesting applications. This break through of augmented reality on smart mobile devices will boost the development of in-car augmented reality applications. Since it is inevitable that this development will emerge in the automotive environment, it is interesting for Rijkswaterstaat to find out what the influence of this development will be upon the Dutch traffic. Rijkswaterstaat is interested in the opportunities or threats that will occur when a significant percentage of the road vehicles is equipped with augmented reality options. Knowledge in this area can be used to maintain or improve traffic flow and safety in the Dutch traffic. A broad exploratory field study, in which up front parties in the automotive industry have been consulted, showed that visual augmented reality will find its way to the car via 3 possible platforms. A accurate technology roadmap is designed to present a clear overview about these developments up to 2020. In this roadmap is presented that visual in-car augmented reality can be implemented via the display of the smart mobile devices, via commercial augmented reality eyewear or via next generation augmented reality head up displays (HUD). In-car augmented reality applications presented via the display of smart mobile devices will be seen first due to its easy implementation in the car. This platform will be utilized by commercial augmented reality application developers. In fact these applications already exist nowadays. However, the most evident platform for in-car augmented reality use, will be a next generation augmented reality HUD. Within 5 to 6 years from now, this augmented reality HUD will be introduced by the automotive industry to at first realize functions like navigation and night vision object detection. The conceptualization phase in this project concentrated on the development of in-car augmented reality applications. Goal of the conceptualization phase was to find out which in-car visual augmented reality applications might be beneficial for the safety and traffic flow on the Dutch roads. On the other hand it had the goal to find out what threats the in-car implementation of visual augmented reality might incorporate. All applications that have an influence on safety or traffic flow (either positive or negative) have been elaborated to a video impression. In collaboration with experts from different fields of study these impressions have been evaluated. This results in a vision that tells Rijkswaterstaat about the opportunities and threats of in-car visual augmented reality. The studies resulted in the conclusion that visual in-car augmented reality will result in more driver distraction in the form of in-car visual augmented reality infotainment. These infotainment applications will enter the car via the smart mobile devices, and can be of significant danger to the driver safety. However in-car visual augmented reality also offers chances to Rijkswaterstaat. While the development does not directly enhance safety and traffic flow, it will be an ideal communication channel between Rijkswaterstaat and road-user. Being able to explain rules and limitations to the road-user, enhances the user experience and results in more commitment from their side. This research opens and validates further exploration of the topic of in-car augmented reality in the Dutch traffic. (Part C of this Master thesis needs to be viewed with Acrobat).

augmented reality
traffic
visual augmented reality
in-car augmented reality

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7b935950-9f75-4c32-b9de-1dc77300fdf7

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2011 Spiekermann, P.T.F.