Mini shows augmented reality glasses for car drivers

Automaker Mini will show augmented reality glasses at the Auto Shanghai Show. The glasses show information to the driver via a head-up display, such as routes and assistance when parking a Mini.

Mini does not want to say which hardware is used for the augmented reality glasses, but there has been collaboration with a number of Qualcomm business units. The glasses are designed by the company Designworks.

Mini outlines a number of possibilities that the glasses offer. For example, the glasses can show the route to the car if it is parked somewhere, for example. In the ‘last mile’ mode, you can also show the road to the final destination if there is still a bit of walking to do. During a car trip, the glasses can show speed limits, among other things. According to Mini, information is always projected just above the steering wheel, so that the view of the traffic is unobstructed.

The car manufacturer states that thanks to augmented reality, the glasses can project arrows on the road to steer the driver in the right direction. Points of interest can also be visualized in this way, such as free parking spaces. Other applications are ‘x-ray view’, where the driver can look through certain parts of the car, such as the doors, and ‘augmented parking’ to determine the distance to the curb by means of augmented reality.

Currently, the glasses are still a prototype. It is still unclear whether Mini will actually bring the wearable to the market or whether it will remain in the concept phase.