Smart surface research: an important medium for multi-modal interaction, leading the trend of smart cockpits-EEWORLD

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Smart surfaces are the development trend of automotive interior and exterior decorations

Smart surfaces are a trend in the development of automobile interior and exterior decorations. They are an important component of smart cockpits and an important medium for multi-modal interaction. In car interior parts such as center consoles, steering wheels, doors, and windows, smart surfaces upgrade traditional interaction media such as buttons or knobs in traditional car interiors to touch interaction using surface materials such as plastic materials or fabric materials. medium.

Automotive smart surface applications

Source: MEIS

Compared with traditional car interiors, smart surfaces have the advantages of being lightweight, intelligent, and functional. Lightweight: reduce weight by 60%-80%, reduce thickness by 90%, reduce PCBA area by 25%, and reduce number of components by 95%; Intelligent: integrate electronic switches, lighting, sensors and other intelligent components to provide multi-modal interaction Media; Functionalization: Higher design freedom and functional integration allow smart surfaces to provide more functions for drivers and passengers in a more convenient way.

Advantages of automotive smart surfaces

Source: Zuosi Auto Research's "2022 Automotive Intelligent Surface Industry Research Report"

Professional IME companies and Tier1 interior companies jointly promote the development of automotive intelligent surfaces

In-Mold Electronics is currently the main process for smart surfaces. It has excellent bending and tensile properties, supports 3D molding, does not need to re-develop molds, and has more freedom in styling design. Moreover, the printing conductive ink solution is environmentally friendly and economical, and can meet the increasingly accelerating demand for vehicle model changes.

At present, there are not many companies focusing on automotive IME technology. Most companies also focus on consumer electronics or industrial application electronic components, such as Tactotek, Canatu, Sekisui, Kurz, e2ip and other companies. At the same time, most automotive interior Tier1 companies are also increasingly Focus on application development of smart surface components.

Automobile intelligent surface industry chain

Source: Zuosi Auto Research's "2022 Automotive Intelligent Surface Industry Research Report"

Faurecia’s vision for the cockpit of the future is a multifunctional, connected and intelligent space. The smart surfaces developed by Faurecia draw on the Group’s experience in several areas of expertise: experience in cockpit architecture, systems integration, kinematics and mechatronics. In 2021, Faurecia signed a multi-year license agreement with Immersion to obtain Immersion's patented technology and tactile technology solutions for automotive touch screens and control systems; in 2022, Faurecia completed the acquisition of Hella, and the group was renamed Faurea, with smart surface products More intelligent lighting functions will also be integrated.

Freya Smart Surface Products

Source: Freya

The smart interior surface being developed by Yanfeng Automotive Interiors combines automotive interior aesthetics with human-machine interface (HMI) technology, seamlessly integrating control, information display, lighting and heating functions into the same surface. In February 2020, Yanfeng demonstrated its latest intelligent surface technology through an "intelligent surface technology display model". The model contained a total of 7 human-computer interaction interfaces and was seamlessly integrated on various interior surfaces. In March 2022, Yanfeng and SemsoTec signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The two parties will cooperate in display and sensor technology, components, and automotive application products. This cooperation between the two parties aims to accelerate the seamless integration of human-machine interface (HMI) into all interior surfaces of future cars, which will bring a unique in-car user experience.

Yanfeng smart surface products

Source: Yanfeng

Smart surfaces provide more possibilities for OEMs’ smart cockpit strategies

Whether it is a luxury model or an entry-level model, more and more OEMs are applying smart surfaces to smart cockpits. Touch central control screens, touch door control modules, touch window control modules have become very common, and even on the steering wheel. A touch module appears.

Porsche's new interactive interface design, the 8.4-inch tilted screen at the lower part of the center console is mainly used to control battery and charging status, air conditioning control, handwriting pad, etc., and has tactile feedback and error-proof operation functions.

Porsche Taycan smart surface interior

Source: Aika Automobile

Lideal L9 cancels the instrument panel in front of the driver and replaces it with a small TouchBar touch panel above the steering wheel. Through 5 touch screens, 6 microphones and 3DToF sensors, combined with Li Auto’s self-developed multi-modal 3D interaction technology based on deep learning, the audio-visual and entertainment experience of smart cars is raised to a whole new level.

Ideal L9 smart surface interior

Source: Hexun.com

In order to create a sense of technology and a simple design style, the WM7 not only removes all physical buttons, but also pioneers the touch-sensitive shifting method integrated in the steering wheel. WM's "i-Surf technology skin" smart surface material adopts ultra-fine blended weaving technology. The texture is like wool blending, and it also has light-transmitting properties. When combined with a flexible screen, text or pictures can be customized in real time.

WM M7 smart surface interior