Volvo invests in new augmented reality tech

Volvo’s recent investment in a startup called Spectralics has signalled the potential future introduction of a windscreen-wide head-up display for its cars.

Volvo's venture capital arm, Volvo Cars Tech Fund, invested US$2 million (AU$2.79m) in Spectralics. It says the investment will fund and prioritise access to its optical film tech known as “multi-layered thin combiner” that can be overlaid or integrated within windscreens.

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This holds potential to revolutionise driver interfaces, as the film can overlay a windscreen with images, which Volvo says could then “instil a sense of distance as virtual objects are superimposed onto the real-world environment for a safe and immersive experience”.

Think of a screen-wide head-up display with augmented reality features, thanks to tech that can potentially eliminate projection systems that are bulky to package and limit field of view.

Augmented reality has been fast developing in existing road cars, both on and off head-up displays. Mercedes-Benz cars can already overlay real-time images on its centre screen with navigation directions.

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If it all sounds a bit Minority Report, then you’re getting the right idea, as other uses for Spectralics technology include “in-cabin sensing”, blind-proof front-looking camera images, and holographic projects.

Spectralics was born from Sweden’s MobilityXLab programme that hosts a convention for start-ups in the mobility industry and which Volvo has been a leading partner for since 2017. The startup is based in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

According to its LinkedIn page, it describes itself as an “industrial deep-tech company” that also develops advanced materials. It also has experience in the aerospace industry.

Volvo Cars Tech Fund launched in 2018 to help Volvo locate and invest in future-facing technologies that it believes will transform the auto industry – including artificial intelligence, electrification and autonomous driving.