Research on automotive high-tech: How long will it take for naked-eye 3D to be installed in cars?

Zoss Automotive Research Institute released the " Special Research on Naked Eyes 3D - Monthly Monitoring and Analysis Report on Automotive Black Technology 2024 Issue 5", analyzing and studying the application status, technical routes, application scenarios, OEM and supplier applications, patent status, and development trends of automotive naked eye 3D.

Glasses-free 3D can provide more vivid human-computer interaction and is expected to become the focus of the next generation of in-car displays.

Naked eye 3D means that the naked eye can directly see the three-dimensional visual effect without the help of glasses, helmets or other external equipment. The basic principle is: there is a distance of about 60mm between the human eyes. When viewing an object, there will be a certain degree of horizontal difference between the image of the object on the left eye and the right eye retina, which is parallax. The brain judges the distance of the object through parallax. The brain will form a three-dimensional stereoscopic feeling through the fusion reflection of the two images with parallax reflected in the two eyes through the optic nerve center and the visual psychological reaction.

As an emerging display technology , naked-eye 3D has been applied in consumer electronics , such as naked-eye 3D advertising screens and naked-eye 3D PADs, and consumer habits are being cultivated. In cars, the application of naked-eye 3D is also quietly unfolding.

At present, there are four main solutions for the application of naked-eye 3D in cars: naked-eye 3D instrument, naked-eye 3D light field screen , aerial imaging (holographic display), and 3D AR-HUD . Through naked-eye 3D technology, users no longer need AR/VR and other devices to achieve 3D vision and vivid in-car interaction, so naked-eye 3D will become the focus of the next generation of in-car displays.

Application logic of naked eye 3D technology in cars

Source: Zoss Automotive Research "Special Research on Naked Eyes 3D - Monthly Monitoring and Analysis Report on Automotive Black Technology 2024 Issue 5"

Naked-eye 3D application scenario 1: 3D instrument

The advantage of the naked-eye 3D instrument is that the driver can obtain relevant information more intuitively, and it also reduces driving hazards caused by distraction from observing the screen.

From the perspective of marketization progress, foreign companies such as Continental and Magneti Marelli have achieved small-scale mass production, which are mainly used in foreign models, such as the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S, Genesis GV80 high-end version, Peugeot 208/308 pure electric version, etc.

The first car to be equipped with this technology is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S. The camera on the top of the screen locates the position of the driver's head and eyes, monitors the changes in the driver's facial position, and adjusts the dislocated image so that the left and right eyes can see the instrument screen images with different pixel images, thus achieving a 3D depth of field effect with a sense of depth. The camera hidden in the display can also track the driver's gaze and continuously adjust the 3D imaging to bring a better visual experience.

Naked-eye 3D application scenario 2: 3D light field screen

Light field 3D display is a new type of naked-eye 3D display technology. Simply put, it collects the light space seen by the human eye, reorganizes the light, and then simulates the effect of the human eye focusing and moving objects based on distance in the virtual space, recreating the three-dimensional world.

The main advantages of light field screens are that they can provide an immersive viewing experience, reduce eye fatigue, reduce motion sickness symptoms, and protect privacy. They are suitable for in-car viewing, in-car gaming, children's entertainment, business office and other scenarios.

In April 2023, Huawei released the world's first in-car light field screen HUAWEI xScene, which put an immersive private theater into the car for the first time. The product combines LCD display technology with spatial optical technology, adopts original optical engine technology, and has the characteristics of large format, depth of field, low motion sickness, and eye relaxation. At present, Huawei's light field screen has been installed in the car M9.

Huawei's in-car light field screen supports three types of in-car product forms: seat back, headrest and co-pilot, and can flexibly adapt to multiple scenarios.

Naked-eye 3D application scenario three: aerial imaging

Aerial imaging, also known as medium-free air imaging and holographic imaging, is another major technical route for naked-eye 3D. Its main feature is that it does not require display media, allowing users to directly view and interact through the air.

There are many OEMs following up on aerial imaging technology, including foreign manufacturers such as BMW, Toyota , and Volkswagen, and domestic manufacturers such as Great Wall, Geely, Changan, SAIC, JAC, Chery, Lantu, and Hongqi, but they are mainly in the concept display stage.

The Lantu Light Chasing, which was launched in May 2023, offers an AI air projection option package and is the first model to be launched with aerial imaging. The Lantu Light Chasing AI air projection can customize the image of an intelligent assistant, such as family, friends or favorite characters, and can also interact, bringing more fun to driving.

Naked-eye 3D application scenario 4: 3D AR-HUD

3D AR-HUD is an advancement of the existing 2D AR-HUD. It can not only overcome the existing problems of traditional AR-HUD such as oversized volume/excessive distortion/sunlight backflow/glare, but also improve the driving experience to another higher level. It will be the focus of the next generation of HUD.

At present, 3D AR-HUD has achieved small-scale mass production. Most of them use a strategy that combines 2D permanent display information with 3D dynamic information to highlight dynamic information such as navigation and ADAS reminders in 3D.

For example, the Deep Blue S7 adopts a 2D permanent information + 3D dynamic information strategy. The 2D permanent information includes vehicle speed, indicator lights, speed limit, etc., and the 3D dynamic information includes navigation, speeding warning, obstacle reminder, etc. The important information is more eye-catching through the layering of the screen. In the future, with the application of light field display and holographic display, the 3D display of AR-HUD will become more mature.

Glasses-free 3D mass production process

The large-scale application of naked-eye 3D still relies on technological breakthroughs and cost reduction under large-scale mass production. From the perspective of specific applications:

Although the naked-eye 3D instrument was mass-produced as early as 2020, the user experience is not good. Some users said that "they will feel dizzy after looking at it for a long time", and part of the market may be replaced by AR-HUD. Light field screens are highly universal. In addition to being installed on the front of the car, they can also be installed on the back of the car. For example, the rear row of Changan Qiyuan E07 is equipped with Nubia Pad 3D II, which turns the rear cockpit into a 3D cinema in seconds; Huawei's magicLink has the same potential. Aerial imaging is more technically difficult because it is separated from the physical display screen. Although there are many follow-up OEMs, there are not many mass production applications. Most of them are in the concept display stage and are still some distance away from large-scale mass production.

3D AR-HUD has taken the lead in small-scale mass production, with relatively low cost and high user satisfaction. For example, customers of Deep Blue S7 and Volkswagen ID series said that it is "high-definition and easy to use". According to the progress of suppliers, Ruisi Huachuang's multi-layer optical waveguide module 3D PGU is expected to be mass-produced in Q3 or Q4 2024. In the future, the black technology 3D light field AR-HUD is planned to be mass-produced in 2024, the space light field AR-HUD is planned to be mass-produced in 2025, and the light field MR-HUD is planned to be mass-produced in 2028. Therefore, 3D AR-HUD is expected to become the preferred solution for naked-eye 3D mass production, and will also take the lead in mass production.

Prediction of mass production progress of naked-eye 3D in-car