Audi Virtual Cockpit

Introduction

In many traditional systems,  a touchscreen in center is the heart of infotainment with stripped-down menu, music info in the space between the gauge clusters.  When the driver wants to see the details, he/she has to move his/her eyes off the road and focus on the center of dashboard. To prevent drivers from being distracted from driving process, Audi Virtual Cockpit places all information in a digital gauge cluster. The crystal clear TFT screen has two operating modes: classic view and infotainment view. Classic view looks like traditional TFT gauge clusters with big gauges and information in the middle. While switching into infotainment view, gauges scale down and stay in the lower corners, freeing up large amount of space for displaying navigation map or main menu.

The Hardware

Audi car computer system is powered by two Nvidia Visual Computing Modules(VCM), each of which is driven by a Tegra 3 SoC.  One VCM renders 60 frame per second graphical contents to a 1440x540 resolution display while the other handles a second Navigation Plus system. A extra Head-up Display is connected to MMI to show information such as navigation symbols or information about the assistance systems.

Virtual Cockpit: Beating Analog

Audi Virtual cockpit includes every functionality but HVAC.  Analog gauges have the advantage that they come into play instantly when engine started. To beat analog, Audi virtual cockpit first starts in early mode,  displaying driver-critical information on another screen.  After few seconds, digital cluster come into functioning. QNX provides a platform for car-makers to build applications between the hardware and users.

Audi Virtual Cockpit, Copyright Audi AG

Center Display

Virtual cockpit is ideal if the driver is the only one in the car. A passenger usually wants to play with radio, media player. To complement the enjoyment of passengers, Audi offers a range of center display options, interacted with Audi MMI controllers instead of touchscreens.

Head-up Display

Head-up Display(HUD) projects important information, e.g. warning message with symbols and numbers onto windshield.  The driver perceives the information very quickly and he/she doesn't have to refocus his/her eyes from driving field of view, thus reducing driving risks.

Apple CarPlay

Apple's CarPlay is a smartphone projection system which integrates your iPhone into you vehicle, thus a safe way to make use of your iPhone while driving.  CarPlay integrates Siri to follow voice commands, but can also be interacted with vehicle's touchscreen and console knobs.

Interactivity

Audi virtual cockpit has two sets of redundant controls: one main set on the streering wheel and the other  on the center of dashboard.

Conclusion

Audi virtual cockpit is the first driver-oriented system with a combination design of digital instrument cluster and infotainment.