ACTIA’S UI* EXPERTS UNVEIL THEIR DIGITAL COCKPIT POC**
As technology advances, driving public transport vehicles is becoming an experience that involves not only the driver, but also the passengers. The key to making this experience positive lies in the digital cockpit. At the most recent FIAA trade fair in Madrid, ACTIA’s design UI experts presented their digital cockpit prototype for buses and coaches.
With a focus on this PoC, which sparked a great deal of interest from both drivers and manufacturers, they discussed the latest trends in the driving arena, the challenges that they pose for equipment manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers, and ACTIA’s role in creating future driving experiences.
Learn more from our two experts about ACTIA’s UI approach for the cockpit of the future. Philippe Boutonnet, System solutions product group manager, Electronic vehicle architecture SBA. Sylvain Léon, ACTIA Systems Managing Director.
*User Interface **Proof of Concept
THE POC: RECONSTRUCTION OF DRIVING EXPERIENCES
The aim of this PoC is to place the driver in a real driving situation. ACTIA has created a digital cockpit. This connected system links three systems in a single solution around the steering wheel: a MultiC FSX intelligent display unit, an Activision touch screen, and an ActiVi central infotainment and on-board systems management unit. The information is synchronised between the different systems.
“We have reproduced various events that drivers encounter in their day-to-day driving such as:
- Fuel alerts,
- Telephone calls,
- Error messages,
- Information about the charge status for electric buses,
- Diagnostic messages such as vehicle overheating,
- Navigation information,
- etc.
The driver is able to browse through the various scenarios offered using the steering wheel buttons. ACTIA’s digital cockpit makes a positive contribution to each stage of the driver’s journey in the system, because the solution shares the user interface in the centre of their field of vision.
It provides the driver with additional coherent information about:
- Vehicle health,
- Driving behaviour,
- On-board comfort information.
Priority information is displayed in a simplified way on the central screen according to the driving route. The interface is uniform with a single design code for the whole solution” explains Sylvain Léon.
ACTIA’S UI APPROACH: FOCUSED ON THE DRIVER
“When designing its digital cockpit, an ongoing concern for ACTIA has been knowing how we should address technology trends, bearing in mind the user experience: even if this seems obvious.
During the design phase, the challenge for ACTIA’s UI designers lies in selecting the information to be displayed: where, when and how it is presented, without cluttering the screen. This means reducing the driver’s cognitive load.
We have a number of technological options, and this brand new technology is exciting for ACTIA engineers, but what counts is the way in which the concept helps drivers in their day-to-day work: carrying out crucial driving tasks, managing the on-board experience, maintaining their vehicle, etc.
This is why it’s not a case of just adding features or visuals simply to satisfy the aesthetic aspect, though this too is important for the user experience, but above all it involves adding value and focusing on how drivers can benefit, through improvements to equipment and displays in particular.
At ACTIA we are opting for a simple approach, especially in dealing with critical elements related to the safety of people or the integrity of the vehicle. Drivers need the information to be displayed on the screen clearly and at the right time,” explains Philippe Boutonnet.
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