As autonomous cars become more prevalent on our streets, a crucial challenge arises:
How will these vehicles communicate with pedestrians and cyclists?
Traditional methods of eye contact and gestures will no longer be applicable.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena, as part of the MaMeK joint project, are exploring innovative ways to address this issue.
By leveraging advanced projection technology, they aim to enable cars to communicate with their surroundings effectively. Let’s delve into their groundbreaking work.
Currently, drivers and pedestrians rely on nonverbal cues to understand each other’s intentions. However, with autonomous vehicles lacking human drivers, new methods are necessary for seamless interaction.
The MaMeK project aims to develop projection systems that facilitate communication between cars and humans.
The team at Fraunhofer IOF has developed a state-of-the-art dynamic micro-projector using cutting-edge laser technology.
This projector generates bright and clear images, even in broad daylight, making them visible to pedestrians and cyclists.
By integrating these projectors into the car’s sill, the system can display pictograms around the vehicle, providing crucial information to those nearby.
To ensure the projections are visible, the researchers distribute the image across multiple laser diodes and widen each individual image using micro-optic telescopes.
An array of microprisms determines the direction of projection, resulting in a projection area of 100 x 30 centimeters. With an impressive brightness level of around 10,000 lux, pedestrians and cyclists can easily perceive the projected information, even on sunny days.
The developed system, with its compact dimensions of 7 x 7 x 5 centimeters, can be seamlessly integrated into any car sill.
By installing multiple projectors, it becomes possible to display dynamic elements and pictograms all around the vehicle. The modular architecture of the system offers flexibility for future enhancements and adaptations.
As we move towards a future dominated by autonomous vehicles, the ability for cars and humans to communicate effectively becomes paramount.
Through the MaMeK project, researchers at Fraunhofer IOF are pushing the boundaries of projection technology.
Their innovative approach allows cars to project informative and dynamic symbols on the road, enhancing safety and understanding for pedestrians and cyclists alike.
With ongoing advancements, we can anticipate a world where vehicles illuminate the path to harmonious interactions between humans and machines.
