Automotive technology of tomorrow

BMW: Mission Possible

In the fourth movie of the ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise Tom Cruise is seen not only doing improbably perilous things at the top of the world’s tallest skyscraper, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, but also driving a futuristic show car made by BMW. But not all of the high tech gimmicks in the automobile have been dreamed up by Hollywood. Some are being developed by the engineers for upcoming series production. (Sebastian Viehmann, Florian Maier , 03.01.2012)

Vision of efficiency

On a high speed chase through an Indian mega-metropolis the secret agent Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, faces some real challenges. In the latest blockbuster ‘Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol’ Cruise is at the wheel of a futuristic sports machine as he races through Mumbai. It is only thanks to the BMW ‘Vision Efficient Dynamics’ that our hero can negotiate the hectic traffic and avoid colliding with pedestrians during the fast drive. The collision warning system even allows him to prevent crashing into a sacred cow.

The navigation system of the day after tomorrow allows the film’s hero to find his way through the asphalt jungle but even in the real world such applications will soon be as advanced.

Hunt has the benefit of a co-pilot onboard, in the shape of a heads-up display which occupies the entire windscreen area of his vehicle. The navigation system of the day after tomorrow allows the driver to find his way through the asphalt jungle and he no longer has to press any buttons… his commands are given by hand gestures.

“Command by gesture is a subject of research. But the hand movements need to be very brief and definite. The first steps towards this technology we have previewed on our ‘Vision Connected Drive’ concept”,explains the ‘Connected Drive’ expert Henning Diederichs.

Magic touch

It must be said that at this point in time a heads-up display taking up the entire windscreen is mere cinematic magic and is the product of digital trickery. “And the idea that commands can be made by hand gestures is still a long way from being a reality”, says Henning Diederichs who advised the movie makers with regard to the BMW 'Connected Drive’ technology. But the engineers in Bavaria are indeed working on solutions for this side of the silver screen to come up with new applications and function for heads-up display. “Command by gesture is a subject of research. But the hand movements need to be very brief and definite. The first steps towards this technology we have previewed on our ‘Vision Connected Drive’ concept”, Diederichs reports. The important thing is to make sure that the driver can make commands without being distracted from his driving and thus putting himself in danger. “For this reason the iDrive will be still with us for quite a while”, Diederichs explains, referring to the central rotary knob used in BMW models to control the multimedia features and the navigation system. Basic heads-up display capability is now almost a matter of course in the latest car models, with BMW making use of it since 2004. It is also included on the new 3-Series autos. Audi is also making use of the technology as are Peugeot. On Chevy Camaros heads-up display comes as standard. Up to now the display has used a mirror system to project the data onto the window glass. “In this way it is more comfortable for the driver’s eyes to get used to the information projection,” explains the ‘Connected Drive’ expert Henning Diederichs.

A further development in this area is the co-called ‘contact analogue display’. This refers to the visual presentation of data in the correct perspective in terms of the locality in question.

Projection tricks

A further development in this area is the co-called ‘contact analogue display’. This refers to the visual presentation of data in the correct perspective in terms of the locality in question. Navigation advisories, for instance, will appear to the driver as if they are on the roadway itself. “In this manner we present the information to the driver in exactly the position in which it is most relevant. He no longer needs to make a connection between abstract data and the real-life driving situation,” says BMW developer Bernhard Niedermaier. The new display presentation which is four times larger than current systems has been tested in simulators. The display zone can stretch as far as the visual horizon whereas until now it has been limited to a maximum of 2.2 metres ahead of the driver.

The warning of a ‘collision with a cow’ has caused many viewers of ‘Mission Impossible 4’ to grin, but in fact it is not so far removed from reality.

The warning of a ‘collision with a cow’ has caused many viewers of ‘Mission Impossible 4’ to grin, but in fact it is not so far removed from reality. “We are working on a practical application of the technology”, Diederichs promises. The engineers are further refining both the night vision and pedestrian recognition technologies already introduced. “Recognizing animals is the next step. It is all a question of computing power and the right software”, according the man from BMW. Other car makers such as Audi, Volvo and Nissan are all working on person recognition and collision avoidance systems and some functions are already to be found in series production models.

The concept vehicle ‘BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics’ was admired at many auto shows in the recent past. But especially for its starring role a version was built which could actually be driven.

A vision to drive

The concept vehicle ‘BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics’ was admired at many auto shows in the recent past. But especially for its starring role in 'MI4' a version was built which could actually be driven. In 2014 the car will go on sale badged as the ‘i8’ although we shall have to wait and see how many of the cutting-edge high-tech features will make it to series production. In the movie there are also appearances by 1-Series, X6 and 6-Series Cabrio models although some of them come to a sorry end in spectacular crashes.

In the movie there are also appearances by 1-Series, X6 and 6-Series Cabrio models although some of them come to a sorry end in spectacular crashes.

There was one further feature of the ‘Vision Efficient Dynamics’ system which the developers wanted to see showcased in the film but it was not possible. “Using the ‘Micronavigation’ application Tom Cruise could have been directed from his parking place in the shopping centre to the store which was his final destination”, adds Henning Diederichs. Leaving his car the driver is then given navigation instructions via his cellphone or other digital device. Finding the entrance to Burj Khalifa would have been so easy!

Bild in höherer Auflösung:  1366x768  1600x900  1920x1080

Bild in höherer Auflösung:  1366x768  1600x900  1920x1080

Bild in höherer Auflösung:  1366x768  1600x900  1920x1080

Bild in höherer Auflösung:  1366x768  1600x900  1920x1080

Bild in höherer Auflösung:  1366x768  1600x900  1920x1080

Bild in höherer Auflösung:  1366x768  1600x900  1920x1080

Bild in höherer Auflösung:  1366x768  1600x900  1920x1080

In the latest blockbuster ‘Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol’ Cruise is at the wheel of a futuristic sports machine as he races through Mumbai. Picture 1 of 7