From the introduction of physical buttons to the proliferation of digital screens, the evolution of car interior design and ergonomics has been notable in recent decades. However, beyond the logical evolution with respect to the first vehicles, one part of the car seemed to have remained stagnant in time: the windshield. At least, until now.
Gentex, a pioneering technology company in rearview mirrors converted into cameras, has just presented an innovative update to its most technological windshield-screen at the US CES… and it is not the only smart windshield that the industry is working on with the aim of improving comfort and safety behind the wheel. But what exactly is this technology and how does it plan to revolutionize the market?
The Gentex smart windshield: the door to a new level of digitalization
In the first cars it did not even exist, but the windshield is not as basic an element as it may seem: it is the part through which all the visual information that we receive while driving passes and on which our decisions behind the wheel largely depend. . In addition, it is part of the structure of the vehicle on many levels.
Gentex’s proposal is a windshield with “integrated sunshade” which works as a “giant rectangular tinted lens” equipped with auto-dimming technology. Unlike traditional sunshades that completely block light, this smart panel darkens based on the intensity of the sun while allowing a clear view of the road.
The original idea was presented in 2023, but it has evolved significantly since then. Within the framework of the current edition of the CES, in the USA, Gentex wanted to demonstrate how its improved sunshade could be easily integrated into current cars. In essence, this windshield uses advanced sensors and digital processing technology to adjust opacity in real time, depending on sunlight and driving conditions.
In addition, as a kind of enormous head-up display, this technology can incorporate additional information, such as navigation data or safety alerts, projected directly onto the surface of the sunshade. Thus, according to the company, “the driver can detect pedestrians, vehicles and other important elements without distractions.”
Advantages and disadvantages of screen windshields: an idea that Hyundai or BMW are also working on
Unlike other emerging technologies, the latest iteration of Gentex’s smart windshield is already in development to fit production models. In fact, the brand is already a well-known name in the automotive industry thanks to its “digital rearview mirrors” introduced seven years ago and adopted by manufacturers as diverse as Ferrari, Chevrolet or Subaru.
Among the main advantages of these windshield screens is that they could significantly improve safety by preventing glare. In addition, it would increase driver comfort and has potential as “the HUD of the future”, by being able to integrate additional functionalities such as navigation information and safety alerts. On the other side of the scale, the cost of this technology will potentially be high compared to traditional windshields.
In addition to the full-screen mirrors, which improve rear vision through integrated cameras, or the new version of its windshield-screen, the company is currently working on night vision technologies and video recorders integrated into the rear-view mirrors, in addition to sensors to monitor the behavior of the driver and passengers. Gentex has also explored technologies beyond automotive, including aerospace, security and medical applications.
In the automotive sector, other brands are also exploring technologies similar to Gentex’s windshields converted into huge screens: Hyundai, in collaboration with Zeissworks on holographic windshields that will project information directly onto the glass.
BMW, with its i Vision Dee, and Nissan have also shown futuristic concepts that promise to transform the interior of cars. With their potential to improve safety and the driver experience, these smart windshields are a clear example of how technology can reinvent even the most traditional elements of the automobile.
And while it remains to be seen how quickly brands adopt this technology, if they do, it could usher in a new trend in automotive design.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
