HUD for cars

The Corvette uses HUD, It's also been used by Nissan + several other manufacturers. You can also get a motorcycle helmet with HUD. Personally, I think its so '80's.

That's why I like it!

Actually, modern fighter jets do not use HUD any more. The JSF has eliminated it in favor of the HMD (Helmet Mounted Display). The HMD makes the HUD seem like iron sights on a BB gun compared to the capability of the HMD. The HMD not only contains the typical flight data found in the HUD, but FLIR and camera images. A JSF pilot can look down at his lap and see through the aircraft with the HMD. There are broad spectrum cameras mounted all over the JSF so the pilot can see any direction he turns his head regardless of obstruction of the aircraft. The essential flight data is always visible regardless of head position and affords a new dimension is targeting, even those targets beyond visible range or over the horizon.

HUDs are a little more complex than simply reflecting an image off of glass.

First, the refractive index of glass will actually form two images of the source. One is reflected off of the inside face of the glass. The second reflects off of the outside face of the glass. The second surface forms a ghost image that is slightly displaced from the primary image. The displacement is proportional to the glass thickness and angle of incidence of the projected image. I think that HUD glass is coated with a reflective coating on one side and an anti-reflective coating on the other to suppress this effect. I don't know what automakers are doing, if anything.

Second, the image that is reflected off of the glass is also back-focused optically so that to the eye it appears as if the HUD data is focused at infinity. The reason for this is so the pilot does not need to refocus back and forth between the HUD and the-out the-window-view, which quickly can cause disorientation and fatigue. If you did not focus compensate the image, it will have the same focal length as the path between the projector and the eye (DEP). I am not an optics expert, so I do not know how the back-focus for the HUD is done, but they use a series of lenses to achieve this effect.

For an automotive application, the real purpose of the HUD should be to reduce what is called head down time. You want to minimize the amount of time you are looking down into the car's cockpit and maximize your situational awareness. The primary data that would be of any use on the HUD is velocity. All other data is secondary or tertiary in nature (i.e., fuel level, engine temperature, and time of day) since you don't need to look at that data to control or drive your car and typically you only look at those instruments infrequently, they are not reasonable candidates for HUD data and would be clutter in your field of view or at the minimum a distraction from more important things. That just leaves velocity, which really isn't that important in my book since we should be simply driving at a speed that we can control our cars. Most of us have a pretty good sense of speed and only need occasional glances at the speedometer as a cross check. That is why automotive HUDs are more of a novelty than a rave.

However, that may change with the advent of GPS and moving maps. I could see a HUD as and excellent way to post data for driving directions. You could pop up arrows pointing to the direction to turn or the off ramps/roads. Text information that is associated with that could be painted next to the arrows to augment the directions. However, care must be taken so that the display works as a tool to enhance the driver and not distract him from critical activities, such as driving the car! Anything that keeps ones head up and not down is a good tool. Moving map displays in a car are a pain since it takes so much head down time to read them. A HUD would reduce that activity to a minimum.

That's a great explanation! I didn't know there was more to a HUD than just reflecting the instruments off the glass. Thanks for the info.

'Need to do more research.

For a car driver, an HMD would be a little overkill than a HUD. I'd be sure to catch the attention of a traffic cop if he sees me wearing a helmet while driving a car!

Actually, I asked this question to people who'd never heard of a HUD in a car so their comments, I should say, are unqualified, since they've never tried it. They just think it's going to be distracting. I wasn't so sure hence, this post.

I don't know if there are cars sold in the Philippines with HUD in them. 'Never seen one before. However, I can't afford a new car so I just want to upgrade my old car.

"For a car driver, an HMD would be a little overkill than a HUD. I'd be sure to catch the attention of a traffic cop if he sees me wearing a helmet while driving a car!"

Ah! But you would be sure to see him long before he sees you and you can take evasive action. ;-) They call that BVR Kill (Beyond Visual Range).

I think data that should also be included in a HUD is the RPMs, for cars with manual transmission. I drive manual and an HUD would reduce much of my head down time and would make my commutes in stop-and-go highway traffic alot safer. And I love my car so im not selling her anytime soon.

You wrote: "The general comment I get is that it will be distracting for the driver. I'd like to know if others think the same and if there are other issues with such a device in a car."

HUDs and HMDs are distracting to drivers, it is true. However, they are not distracting for fighter pilots engaged in a white-hot 5:1 dogfight nor for a fighter pilot trying to outmaneuver that shitload of SAMs that came out of nowhere nor even for that fighter pilot trying to land under merely nightmarish ILS conditions. The problem isn't with the HUD or the HMS, at all! The problem is with the drivers. We're just not made of the Right Stuff.

-e

Here's the motorcycle hud http://www.veypor.com/hud.html Not waterproof

It needs to be even smaller & built into a pair of glasses, so you could use it in whatever

real cool none the less

I refuse to wear one because it detracts attention from the ladies.

Yes, but like the FLIR (Forward-Looking InfraRed) and visible-light optics in a fighter jet, which are slaved to the pilot's helmet position, this could be quite an advantage - particularly with zoom enabled. Plus, if you dropped a DVR in the loop you could even enjoy such scenery post-trip.

-e

You are evil and perverted!

When do we get started? ;-)

europium, you have a gift for always getting to the meat of the matter. you leave me with nothing to say 'cause you said it all.

i literally agree with you 100%

I have a Pontiac Grand Prix GT (2001) with this feature. The HUD is distracting for about a week. After that, you pretty much forget it's even there until you make a conscious effort to look at it. Displayed are the speedometer, Low-fuel warning, radio station, the number of the song playing in the CD player, turn signal (in case you forgot it on) and a few other warning gauges. Together with on-steering radio control, my eyes rarely leave the road. The device comes with angle adjustments (for taller or shorter drivers) and a dimmer which lets you bring the intensity down to zero.

All in all, it is a feature that I find useful but not mandatory (obviously). I suggest you go to a dealer and just go for a test drive to see how it feels.

regards,

R.

I have a HUD in my car also and would absolutely recommend it to anyone. I would try it first as some people do not like them but I found it became second nature almost immediately. I have a Grand Prix and it displays speed, turn signals, high beam indicator, a check gauges warning when an idiot light comes on, a fuel pump icon for low fuel, and shows either radio station or CD disc and track for a few seconds after making a change to the radio. This was a factory option and would be rather hard to duplicate everything after market but there are DIY kits that will do some of that.

A lot of people think that there is "special" glass but at least for the Grand Prix that isn't true. The HUD equipped cars do have a unique part number for the windshield but it just signifies that the glass is free of any distortion or blemishes in the viewing area (visual inspection).

Shawn

Jaguar have a demo system which uses infra red lamps & HUD covering about half of the drivers size windscreen. It's sized so that the image coincides with the natural view but gives vastly improved night vision.

Vulcan:

I don't mean to be rude, but it is just a car. Couldn't there be something else to invest your resources into other than something that will depreciate to a zero value or become difficult to find parts for in a few years when the car manufacturer discontinues making parts for it.

Now if it car worth collecting than I might be mistaken, but what happens to the value of a classic when you do such an upgrade?

The 1990 pontiac Grand Prix STE had a heads up display, but I don't know if the system was compatible if you were to use it.

Your biggest challenge might be in converting the speedometer (a mechanical measurement) into a digital signal then projecting that reading on the windshield.

Good luck.

Hi Ed,

I intend to build this thing myself using locally available parts so that won't be an issue. It'll be limited to display speed, distance (odometer), fuel state, engine temperature, plus the warning lights and the time. I might throw in a tachometer too. None of the other stuff like the radio station or CD information. Just what's on the instrument panel.

I ran an experiment last night and put a small digital clock on the dash and looked at the reflection on the windshield. This clock is a kit and has red LED numbers about 1 centimeter high. It looked fine! The focus isn't terrible and the numbers were easy to read (the numbers were reversed since it's a mirror reflection but that's easy to solve in the circuitry). I guess it's because of the tint on the glass. My windshielf has a strip of tint about 6 or 8 inches along the bottom and the top.

It's not a collectible (it's a 1995 Nissan but still runs well, about 10 km/liter). Admittedly, it might be just a couple more years before I replace it but building electronic things is a hobby of mine.

My idea for an addition to, or maybe to put below the HUD, is video screens monitoring cameras that take the place of rear and side view mirrors. You could see the mirrors in the HUD instead of turning your head - not that turning your head is so bad, but I've seen where some people tend to drag the wheel in the direction they turn their heads, sometimes into another lane or off the road.

I you have a old nissan try to find part for HUD for old maxima I know nissan make that on potion in 1993 maybe he can fit more easely of make a new one

check on ebay I have already see one

my GTP HUD is the best feature of my car. you can turn all your interior lights off and just use the HUD. great with a radar detector. I wouldn't get another car without it.

I have HUD in my car and I love it. I hate driving other cars that don't have it as I find that glancing down to the instrument panel to see my speed is too distracting.

The Acadia, Grand Prix, Corvette, and STS all have them at some trim level. I am not sure why Nissan/Infinity has not put one in the Maxima/M and Altima/G35. The one in the Arcadia also puts the navigational information in the HUD.