Exploring Future In-Vehicle Experiences

Tools: C++, Qt, QML, JavaScript, Arduino, laser projectors, gaze-trackers, depth cameras

I led a cross-disciplinary team at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development of North America, with the mission of exploring new user experiences inside our vehicles, particularly focused on novel input and output technologies using various sensors, cameras and feedback mechanisms.

Cross-disciplinary team

Since the team consisted of interaction designers, software engineers, hardware engineers and design engineers, we were able to investigate concepts from all perspectives:

• value for the potential users based on user research
• value for the organization based on business needs
• user experience
• technical feasibility
• potential industry partnerships

We produced concepts, functional prototypes, vision videos and user research.

At the core was the concept of Intelligent Interior that used various sensors for contextual understanding of the occupants and their activities.

A responsive, smartphone-aware vehicle interior

Phones are a blessing and a curse, especially in cars. We were looking for ways to integrate them more naturally inside the vehicles. This was a fully functional prototype.

Laser projection as an alternative to displays

Aside from brainstorming the vision for the next MB show car that will react to the occupants, we were doing some experience exploration for what will be possible. Our vision and protoyping informed the Mercedes-Benz AVTR Concept Car

Some future concepts/prototypes for Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Interior

Trying to imagine even further how a vehicle can be responsive to the occupants and make their life easier as opposed to just add “more features”. This exploration informed the 2021 S-Class MBUX