The automobile industry is evolving; from windscreen to bumper, appreciating the ADAS (Advance Driving Assistance System) technology.
Windscreen technology gives us a glimpse into the future of automobiles. So, it is time to usher in a new generation of Smart windscreens that will act as guides and guardians of our safety on the roads.
The days of windscreens just offering some protection to the occupants of the vehicle and some structural strength to the vehicle are long gone. Windscreens have morphed into a sophisticated piece of technology that creates a platform where important information is shared with the driver of a car.
We, at PG Glass offer PG Calibration for vehicles which have Advance Driving Assistance System (ADAS), available at participating PG Glass Fitment Centres, for selected vehicles. ADAS is shaping our future; the potential that this technology has to improve vehicular safety and comfort features is making this technology a worldwide sensation on both consumer and regulatory front.
This means vehicles with the ADAS functionality will need to be recalibrated (unless stated otherwise) after a windscreen replacement. Recalibration of forward facing ADAS cameras is now being integrated into the PG Way of Fitting as an additional service to our customers.
Many vehicles have one or more Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. These systems are developed to automate/adapt/enhance vehicle systems for safety and better driving. Safety features are designed to avoid collisions and accidents by offering technologies that alert the driver to the potential problems or to avoid collisions by implementing safeguards and taking over control of the vehicle. Adaptive features may automate lighting, provide adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, incorporate GPS or traffic warnings, connect to smartphones, automatic parking, and alert the driver to other cars or dangers, keep the driver in the correct lane or show what is in the blind spots.
So, what is in the future for windscreens?
- Smart windscreens – the car’s control centre
It is predicted that augmented reality displays will have a huge effect on windscreens, turning them into control panels capable of doing everything from calculating speeds, to controlling onboard entertainment systems.
- Beyond wipers and sun shielding
Other areas for future innovation include developing technologies that can dispel rain without the need for windscreen wipers or darken sections of glass to avoid glare and overheating while adhering to minimum light transmission regulations.
Another expected addition is a system that can be fitted to any window, enabling users to darken or lighten glass using a switch or a smartphone app. Industry experts see this kind of technology as having potential in autonomous cars, which might have windscreens or windows that can be instantly darkened or lightened at will.
- Dark and light
Smart windscreens will even allow drivers to see in the dark through the use of active illumination or thermal imaging technologies and windscreen technology is showing real promise in the area of night vision.
- Windscreen entertainment
Smart windscreens will become in-car entertainment and communication zones as the driverless car becomes a reality in the 2020s. Motorists will be able to sit back and relax on long and boring motorway journeys as the car drives itself. Freed from the need to concentrate on the road ahead, our windscreens will become the portal through which we browse the internet, chat to friends on social media or watch films.
In the end, Smart windscreens will forever transform our driving experience along with the automobile industry. While the past cannot be changed the future is ours to shape and the future looks bright, indeed!
Contact PG Glass on 0860 03 03 03