STUDENT Oliver Brunt could be on the road to success with his design for an information-packed vehicle windscreen.
The Northumbria University student’s design for a car windscreen which displays driver information, directions and road conditions has been shortlisted in a national transportation competition.
Oliver, a design for industry student, will compete in London against five fellow finalists in the Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award 2011 – an annual competition which aims to identify, support and develop automotive talent of the future.
The 21-year-old has designed the Social Heads Up Display (SHUD) system.
The concept uses the 3G phone network and Bluetooth to enable cars to share information about speed, direction and location in order to give other road users prior knowledge of incoming traffic and accident hotspots. The information is displayed on the windscreen, rather than as a potentially distracting dashboard alert, using Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology sandwiched between the windscreen glass to display the information on the screen.
Satnav instructions would appear directly on the windscreen with speed zone information highlighted. Music players or mobile phone calling facilitators would be activated via voice command.
The aim is to ensure the driver does not have to take their eyes away from the road at any point in their journey, thus improving safety.
Oliver is in contact with various car manufacturers and a German independent OLED screen specialist in the hope of developing the idea into a working prototype.
He said: “Combining the SHUD system with the OLED technology could save lives, reduce traffic and decrease in-car driver distractions by eradicating the need to look anywhere else in the car apart from the windows and mirrors.
“The whole idea is built upon existing technology and infrastructure but merges key elements to create a whole new concept that could save lives, time and our environment.”
The Next Generation Award offers entrants a chance to launch an industry career and is run in partnership with Courland Automotive and the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders. The 2011 award is backed by McLaren Automotive, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Peugeot and Skoda.
The winner will be announced on November 22.
