As automotive designers increasingly move routine controls such as shift, drive, park, headlights wipers, and volume to the car’s central screen or the center of the steering wheel, they’re creating more opportunity for distracted driving by forcing the driver’s eyes off the road.
A 2022 Swedish study, for example, tested how long it took a driver to perform four tasks—such as adjusting temperature and volume controls—while driving at 68 mph.
Performing the tasks on the 005 Volvo V70, the only car without a touchscreen, took just 10 seconds. Executing the same tasks on the MG Marvel R required 44.9 seconds, and the Tesla Model 3 clocked the tasks at 23.5 seconds.
Automotive designers are moving routine controls such as shift, drive, park, headlights wipers, and volume to the car’s central touchscreen or the center of the steering wheel. But the 1st- and 2nd-generation haptic technologies used to produce tactile feedback are primitive at best. They don’t offer the reassuring tactile eedback of the mechanical buttons and switches that have dominated the automotive cabin’s user interface for decades.
Touchscreens force the driver’s eyes off the road when performing routine functions, like changing the radio channel or activating the wipers. And without the confirmational feedback that tells the driver their touch has been registered, touchscreens are especially distracting.
Second-generation haptic technologies — linear resonant actuators (LRAs) — dominate today’s touchscreens. As high-latency components, LRAs are slow to register touch. What’s more they don’t support localized effects and have a limited frequency bandwidth. These limitations create a monotonal buzz that produces an unpleasant mushy sensation at the touch of a fingertip.
Consequently, drivers are more distracted than ever.
Piezo haptic semiconductor platforms, the third-generation haptic technology, provide localized feedback that has an ultra-fast response time and offers a much wider frequency range. This third-generation haptic tech allows user interface designers to craft effects that are crisp and feature multiple frequencies. Automotive designers can produce a specific “feel,” or if desired, create a feel that closely matches the feedback delivered through their traditional mechanical buttons.
Steering Wheel
Integrating haptics into the steering wheel enhances safety by providing tactile feedback for crucial controls like navigation, volume, and phone calls, ensuring drivers keep their eyes on the road.
Center Console
The central console becomes an interactive hub with customizable haptic feedback. Its ability to mimic various controls, from buttons to sliders, ensures a tailored user experience, enhancing safety and usability within the vehicle.
Display Haptic
Adding haptic effects to the display ensures users receive confirmation for their actions, such as button presses or menu selections, without needing to divert attention from the road, thus enhancing overall safety within the vehicle.
