Pioneer intros car head units with augmented reality screen
updated 03:21 pm EDT, Wed May 9, 2012
Pioneer GPS head units due in July for nearly $4,000
Pioneer introduced two new Cyber Navi head units for vehicles that can display augmented reality (AR) information in front of the driver, Tech-On reported. The AVIC-VH99HUD is composed of two single-din pieces of hardware and is the flagship, while the AVIC-ZH99HUD is double-DIN sized. The first products of their kind would use a Head Up Display (HUD) to show the AR information, like some vehicles.
The HUD displays a near 37-inch image about 10 feet in front of the driver at a 720x260 resolution and 12,000cd/m2 brightness. The HUD can be installed in about 70 percent of all vehicles on the market, Pioneer estimates. It communicates with the main unit wirelessly, using Bluetooth. Pioneer worked with US-based MicroVision Inc. on developing the systems.
The system can warn drivers of upcoming speed limits with an image of the sign in the HUD and an audible warning.
The two should ship by the end of July, with the VH99 expected to cost the equivalent of about $4,000, while the ZH99 would cost about $2,770. If the systems will be sold in North America remains to be seen, though this isn't likely.
