Hudify Inc. (Toronto, Canada) is developing an inexpensive, smartphone-based automotive Heads-Up Display (HUD).
The starting point for the idea behind the Hudify HUD is that everyone has a smartphone and that smartphones have a fast processor, a bright screen, GPS capability, the ability to connect to the internet and access applications. The next part of the idea was the recognition that all that was needed transform a smartphone into a HUD was a suitable opto/mechanical device.
The photo below illustrates the device that Hudify created to implement the smartphone-based HUD. As shown, the smartphone is oriented horizontally. Mounted at an angle to and above the smartphone is a semi-transparent reflector plate called a combiner. The combiner reflects the image on the smartphone display towards the driver. The company claims that the image is easily readable even in bright daylight. Since it is semi-transparent, the view of the street behind the combiner remains at least partially viewable by the driver.
The Hudify HUD is composed of two parts. The first part is a flexible mount that attaches to the dashboard of any car using a high-strength adhesive. A strong, neodymium magnet is on the upper surface of the mount. The second part is a frame that holds the smartphone and the combiner. The frame sits on top of the mount. The frame has a magnet on the bottom that holds the smartphone firmly in the frame and that connects the frame to the magnet in the mount.
Hudify is represented as compatible with any HUD app. None-the-less, Hudify has partnered with Navmii (London, UK) to provide the navigation capability. Navmii is a community-based traffic and navigation app for iOS and Android devices.
One feature of the Navmii app is that, if the vehicle is somewhere without internet access or if the driver does not want to use use their data plan, it is possible to download a whole country map from the Navmii store and navigate fully offline.
A video found at the end of this article illustrates the Hudify HUD in operation.
As can be seen in the video, five user interface options are available. The driver can select from these based on preference or need. When in Navmii’s HUD mode, the driver can switch through these user interface options simply by swiping left or right on the smartphone.
Hudify achieved initial financing through an oversubscribed Kickstarter campaign that closed in November. The company raised $154,374 CAD from 1,894 supporters.
The company web site offers the Hudify for sale at a price of $49. Delivery is scheduled to begin in July, 2017. -Arthur Berman
