With head up displays (HUD) gaining more and more interest in the automotive world, different forms of implementations have evolved. At the high end, there are fixed OEM installations that are part of the automobile. These fixed installations are part of the automobile’s electronic system, which will be difficult to update as the technology evolves. Then there are some aftermarket devices like the Garmin HUD that allow drivers of vehicles that are not HUD equipped to experience the head up display technology, while for the budget conscious user, there are some smartphone apps that allow the use of a smartphone as a HUD.
SenseDriver Technologies has now announced another option by combining an aftermarket device with a smartphone-based head up display device. Similar to the Garmin HUD device, the SenseDriver HUD uses a standalone box a little larger than a smartphone and a little over an inch thick. It has a stand that allows the unit to rest on the dashboard in front of the driver. The following image shows how the device looks without a smartphone attached.
The device also has a combining mirror that allows the user to see the traffic in front, as it should with a HUD. The smartphone can be inserted from the front and the image is then reflected by the mirror. In contrast to the Garmin HUD, there is no dedicated display and all the intelligence lies within the smartphone.
SenseDriver Technologies offers an app that when downloaded turns it into a HUD. The app is named is named Hudson and allows for:
- Hands-free operation, voice activated for eyes-on-road connectivity designed for simple and intuitive operation
- 3-D live, map navigation, turn by turn directions
- Auto-reply feature for texts and calls
- Reading messages out loud and Votxting (speech to text messaging) with 140 character limit
- Eliminating open two-way talking to prevent distracted driving
- Speed display
The following video shows how the device operates.
The display resolution is of course dictated by the used smartphone, but the SenseDriver website does not provide any indication on what type of smartphones will supported. The device does recognize ambient lighting and changes the display brightness accordingly. Based on the published image, the mirror is completely flat making the image appear relatively close to the windshield instead of in front of the car as fixed installed HUDs usually do. Maybe they will provide some other display in the unit shipping later this year.
The functionality is very similar to other head up display devices, however SenseDriver Technologies points out that its solution adds another layer of driver safety. When the driver’s smartphone is being used in the HUD position it cannot be used for texting, other than through the provided text to speech messaging feature.
The device is available for $99 via pre-order and the app requires a $9.99 activation fee. The company plans to ship the pre-ordered device in the summer of 2015. While the price is lower than the Garmin HUD, the Garmin device has a street price of under $200 at the moment. This makes the Garmin about twice the price of the SenseDriver HUD. – Norbert Hildebrand
