The end point of the future cockpit is "smart wearables"

From being exclusive to a small group of people to entering the shopping lists of ordinary people, this is the trend of consumer goods brought about by technological development. Cars, computers, mobile phones, etc. have all gone through the process of going from exclusive to universal.

The opening of the new era of electric vehicles is the moment when Tesla became a cool geek car. Electric vehicles before Tesla were merely a commuting tool that replaced fuel vehicles in terms of energy, while electric vehicles after Tesla are a truly intelligent third space and are constantly evolving.

Innovation is the driving force behind the development of electric vehicles

Before we knew it, it is the end of 2021. Various cool and easy-to-drive electric vehicles have become an indispensable mainstream consumer market choice. They are constantly replacing the market for fuel vehicles. According to data from overseas media at the same level, in 2019, sales of pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for 2.5% of the global automobile market. In 2020, this proportion reached 4.2%. The more radical Boston Consulting Group (BCG) believes that by 2026, electric vehicles will account for more than half of global passenger car sales.

So, as the share and proportion of electric vehicles both increase, what direction should electric vehicles themselves develop in? As the electric car company that attaches the most importance to technology and intelligence, WM Motor’s understanding is similar to the development curve of other industries. Its ultimate development direction is to help consumers find the best point between technology and demand and realize the universalization of technology.

How can manufacturers find a balance between the limited cost of car manufacturing and the limited budget expectations of consumers? WM Motor chose to use the smart cockpit as its entry point, and once it does so, it must make a splash in its class.

This is actually quite challenging. Although there is no leader in the industry, competitors have come a long way.

When talking about smart cockpits, people always think of the concept proposed by Xiaopeng. Indeed, through the efficient voice system, when driving a Xiaopeng vehicle, you can achieve hands free, that is, there is no need to use your hands to operate conventional options. WM Motor's thinking, while emphasizing intelligent interaction in the car, also attaches importance to the physical touch experience in the car to create a unique full-vehicle interactive attribute.

Powerful perception and computing power are the foundation of WM Motor and the prerequisite for the vehicle to be used as the "third space". The M7 has up to 32 perception sensors, including 3 autonomous zoom high-precision super-vision solid-state laser radars, 7 8-megapixel high-definition cameras, 5 millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, 4 surround cameras, and 1 independent high-precision positioning module; it is equipped with the Orin-X top-level autonomous driving chip with a maximum computing power of up to 1,016TOPS and can calculate 254 trillion times per second. These intelligent hardware can enable the vehicle to better perceive and adapt to the external environment and improve the safety factor of the vehicle in complex road environments.

The final effect basically met expectations, that is, the intelligent interaction inside and outside the car is one step further than Xiaopeng, and the world's first i-Rota super dial performs one step further than Tesla.

Transforming interactive experience with “smart wearables”

The interior of the WM-M7  (  parameters  |  inquiry ) was unveiled for the first time at the Guangzhou Auto Show   . The spacious space created by its 2,918mm wheelbase, the class-leading ultra-large panoramic glass skylight with an area of ​​more than 2.8 square meters, and the audio-visual effects provided by up to four large screens throughout the car are all very eye-catching, but the most novel and interesting thing is its innovative design of the world's first vehicle "smart wear" - the i-Rota super dial and i-Surf technology skin.

The WM-M7 adopts a minimalist layout with "zero buttons". Except for the multi-function steering wheel, dual screens and a black knob, there are basically no physical buttons. At the first level of thinking, you will think that the WM-M7 should have excellent intelligent voice control attributes. This is also the mature route that all models currently reduce physical buttons, whether they are fuel vehicles or electric vehicles. But in fact, the thinking of the WM-M7 has reached the fifth level - the secret lies in this seemingly ordinary knob.

When it comes to smart wearables, the first thing that comes to our mind is definitely the smart watch - iWatch. The true identity of the black knob of the WM M7 is the i-Rota super dial. You can think of it as putting a smart watch on the new energy vehicle.

It is the central knob for controlling this smart vehicle. You can use it to operate functions including song switching, temperature adjustment, etc. It has a very practical logic built into it. When you are too lazy to use the smart voice control system or operate the touch screen, it provides an option similar to traditional physical buttons.

Of course, I am just saying similar, because the screen area is 1.58 inches. The knob made with electroplating technology is not only an operating unit, but also a carrier that can provide emotional interaction. It contains rich micro-expressions and can display pictures, expressions, symbols and other interesting content.

Traditional car companies generally like to transplant watches into the cockpit space as a decoration that highlights the elegant charm, so why can't smart watches be integrated into the smart cockpit, which not only conforms to the design atmosphere of the times, but also provides more operations and emotional blessings? This is undoubtedly a black technology belonging to WM Motor, and it is also one of the killer features revealed by WM Motor M7.

By the way, in terms of improving operational convenience, WM Motor also has a black technology, namely the gear shifting design integrated into the steering wheel. It allows gear shifting to be completed without taking both hands off the steering wheel, greatly simplifying user operation. This globally unique design is the same as Tesla’s latest MS Plaid concept. Both are designed for the era of smart driving, but it undoubtedly sees farther and goes faster.

The third "black technology" killer feature is the i-Surf technology skin that WM Motor uses in the passenger area and four door interior panels.

Anyone who has driven an Xpeng Motors, whether it is a G3i, P7 or P5, will be impressed by the fast and convenient interaction provided by its intelligent voice system. This is an auditory interaction, while the i-Surf technology skin in the WM M7 cabin adds tactile and visual interaction, bringing a richer and more diverse way of playing.

Visually, it uses various graphic reminders to make the cockpit feel warmer. You can send a rose to your lover in the co-pilot seat to express your love, or you can set up small animations and games to add fun. When there is an oncoming car from the side, the i-Surf technology skin will also use graphics to remind you to pay more attention, making this commute safer.

As for the touch, since it is skin, it must have an absolutely excellent feel. i-Surf technology skin selects durable and light-transmitting textile materials from more than a thousand raw materials, and is made by ultra-fine blended weaving technology. When you touch it with your fingers, it feels like you are touching a wool blended coat with dense stitches. The bionic micro-nano structure antibacterial surface reaches the top level of waterproof, oil-proof and anti-fouling. The first "flexible screen" patented technology is responsible for presenting rich light and shadow art effects, reflecting a variety of lighting atmospheres, and adding a sense of ritual to life. This skin also has the function of a screen, realizing personalized attitude output.

It is a "soul catcher" in emotional communication and a "little bodyguard" in safety protection. The rich user-customized interface content can also satisfy your DIY desire. I believe that in the future, with the exploration of consumers' gameplay and the push of new functions after OTA upgrades, it will have more room for growth and make the functions of the smart cockpit richer and more powerful.

Last words

The competition among electric vehicles is not just about acceleration or cool appearance, but ultimately it all comes down to technological strength. Using technology to create a smart space with a sense of life is undoubtedly the direction of development and a battlefield for competing in strength, judging from current car purchasing trends.

In the past, we thought that interaction should not be rigid, that voice assistants should be more humane, and that the instrument panel and central control screen should have more functions. The WM-M7 goes a step further and uses smart wearables in a minimalist cockpit, expanding the dimension of interaction through pictures, symbols, emoticons, and games to provide a "dressing style" for the future new energy era. The clock in the car has never been out of date, but it has changed its form of existence in the cockpit of the WM-M7, and the added new functions have also been given more meaning.

Relying on breakthroughs in vehicle-wide interaction, the WM-M7 still adheres to WM's attitude of "technology for all", that is, to help consumers find the optimal solution between technology and needs. I think this is undoubtedly an exploration of fresh ideas and a successful innovation, leading the direction of future automobile development and making people look forward to the mass production and launch of the WM-M7.