No matter how sofisticated, people don't expect to need a handbook to operate technology. They get into cars and expect by pushing the switches, to be able to get the thing to work. When BMW introduced the iDrive system in the 2001 7-Series, opinions were polarised. Not only the complexity of its menu system, but also on the feel of its single rotary controller. 'Human perception will always be subjective,' says Gerhard Mauter, head of Audi's haptic team. Audi uses electronic control elsewhere in the car, but wants mechanical solutions to provide interior haptics. OEMs realise cost savings by sharing components, platforms and powertrains but anything the customer touches is usually off-limits. Maintaining a brand-specific feel is too important. There is pressure to replace mechanical systems with other technology simply because it gives more design freedom. X-by-wire controls can dramatically reduce packaging requirements, but they have to feel right. The haptic must be what the OEM wants, and what customers would expect. Tier One supplier Kostal developed the shift-by-wire controls for the BMW X5 and Jaguar XE. 'We replaced mechanical parts with mechatronics, so it was important to get the same feeling but without negatives such as friction,' says Kostal's R&D director, Detlev Kramer. He is impressed by Apple's iPod and iPhone: 'You have a lot of different functions but nobody needs a handbook to use them - I think this kind of solution will influence cars in the future.' Visteon has been focusing on the centre stack, developing HMI, climate and audio controls. Its most recent convept car featured a range of advanced, integrated electronics including a reconfigurable touch screen. Vehicles are becoming more complex. Functionality and haptics are linked but haptics alone can't guarantee that systems are easy to use. The main issue with improved haptics is reduced driver distraction: pressing a button while driving gives immediate feedback. Visteon is working on a slender, integrated, centre panel which twists and turns, giving a very complex form. There are no gaps for switches, and the surface is blank until capacitive sensing detects a hand in proximity, iluminating the back-lit controls. Immersion Corporation of the US also provides haptics for touch screens. Most of its automotive projects are in this area. Small electric actuators attached to the edge of the screen make it vibrate. The actuators are software controlled; the programing determines the type of haptic. 'In Europe there are more innovators, while in Detroit there's more innovation at the supplier level,' says Mike Levin, vice-president of Immersion's instrument panel strategy. Immersion has worked with Valeo on back-lit touch pads that function as phone keybords or as the audio control. It worked with Visteon on its showcar's centre console. The growing interest in new interfaces and haptic by forced feedback is, Levin says, because of the flexibility. Audi may prefer to re-tool whenever necessary but other OEMs may take the software route. This is also a more cost-effective solution for mass-market vehicles. Like the other suppliers Immersion has simulation tools, but agrees that prototyping is absolutely necessary. Defining the haptic, characterising it - is something the firm has worked hard on, beyond just force/displacement curves. Two parts could have almost the same plots but still feel very different. Like Kostal, Levin believes that consumer electronics will influence haptics in the future. 'People are growing up with PlayStations, X-Boxes and Nintendo Wiis, and learned how to control those products,' Levin says. 'That usability is going to drive design.'


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    Titel :

    More than a feeling. Engineers give feedback on future development in haptics


    Weitere Titelangaben:

    Mehr als ein Gefühl. Ingenieure geben Feedback zu künftigen Entwicklugen auf dem Gebiet der Haptik


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    Automotive Engineer ; Mar ; 26-28


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2008


    Format / Umfang :

    3 Seiten, 5 Bilder



    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Print


    Sprache :

    Englisch





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