- Mini is developing a new technology that merges the virtual and real worlds through a VR headset while driving.
- The VR headset displays “Mini VR World” graphics alongside real-world camera feeds, creating an immersive experience.
- The technology is currently in the testing phase and could be applied to future car models.
Mini is testing a new technology for those who find the real world just too dull when sitting behind the wheel. The Mini Mixed Reality system merges the virtual and real worlds, because you know, why focus on driving when you can wear a VR headset and pretend you’re somewhere else?
The BMW Group company shared photos of a camouflaged prototype known as the Mini Mixed Reality E-GoKart undergoing testing on a runway. While from the exterior, the model appears similar to a regular Mini Cooper Electric, its onboard technology is what sets it apart.
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The driver is equipped with a VR headset that integrates feeds from cameras with in-house designed “Mini VR World” graphics. These graphics are generated from a high-end PC, streaming directly to the headset and interacting with the environment. The system tracks the movements of the VR headset, in conjunction with acceleration, sound, and vehicle interface devices, ensuring a fully integrated experience.
While Mini hasn’t shared videos or screenshots, they say that the driver experiences the world through a different lens, describing the Mini VR World as more “vibrant.” Despite this immersive experience, the driver retains visibility of the actual environment, ensuring that the road ahead, including other vehicles or obstacles, remains visible at all times.
The Mini Mixed Reality is currently going through testing and validation, so don’t expect it to arrive in your production car anytime soon. The company includes user studies for automated driving, meaning that “Mixed Reality” features could be applied in future models – at least when ADAS are sophisticated enough to support it. According to Mini, the new technology “opens doors to exciting possibilities, from gaming integrations to potential partnerships”.
A number of automakers, including Mercedes-Ben, already offer augmented reality head-up displays, incorporating graphics into the real world. In the future, the interplay between digital and real could be expanded via VR headsets or high-tech windows and surfaces that double as screens. Adding VR headsets to drivers sounds like a clever way of keeping their eyes on the road and minimizing in-car distractions while other occupants enjoy content from their screens.
