\ DOT-HS-807-068 Automotive Displays and DOT-TSC-NHTSA-86-4 Controls- Existing Technology and Future Trends M.A. Esterberg E. 0. Sussman R. A. Walter Transportation Systems Center Cambridge, MA 02142 November 1987 Final Report This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161 © US Departmentof Transportation National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration Office of Research and Development, and Office of Crash Avoidance Research Washington D.C. 20590 \ NOTICE This document is disseminated under the sponsorship ofthe Department ofTransportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. NOTICE The United States Government does notendorse products or manufacturers. Tradeor manufacturers' names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object ofthe report. All copyright material has been verified and approved for publication. •\ Technical Report Documentation Pago 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. DOT-HS-807-068 4. Title and Subtitle S. Report Oate AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS - EXISTING November 1987 TECHNOLOGY AND FUTURE TRENDS 6. Performing Organization Code TSC-DTS-45 8. Performing Organization Report No. 7. Author'i) M.A. Esterberg, E.D. Sussman, and R.A. Walter DOT-TSC-NHTSA-86-4 9. Performing Organisation Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) U.S. Department of Transportation HS702/S7Q17 Research and Special Programs Administration 11. Contract or Grant No Transportation Systems Center Cambridge, MA 02142 13. Typo of Report and Period Covered 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address U.S. Department of Transportation Final Report National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Jan. 1986 - Aug. 1986 Office of Research and Development Office of Crash Avoidance Research 14. Sponsoring Agency Coda Washington, DC 20590 NRD-50 13. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract This report presents overview information on high-technology displays and controls that are having a substantial effect on the driving environment. Advances in electronics and computers, in addition to cost advantages, increase the technologies' impact. The status of these displays and controls, and the concerns that may be raised in relation to safety and the driving task, are discussed. Several industry brochures and articles are reprinted as appendices, and a detailed reference list for further study is supplied. 17. Keywords Vacuum Fluorescent, Liquid 18. Distribution Statement Crystal, Light-Emitting Diodes, Cathode DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC Ray Tubes, Instrument Clusters, Diagnostic THROUGH THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL Systems, Driver Information Monitors INFORMATION SERVICE, SPRINGFIELD. VIRGINIA 22161 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price 128 Unclassified Unclassified Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed peg* authorised PREFACE This report was prepared by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Transportation Systems Center, for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Crash Avoidance Research. The support and advice of Robert Nicholson, chief of that office, is gratefully acknowledged. High-technology displays and controls are having a substantial impact on the driving environment and, in the future, this impact will increase because of advances in electronics and computers as well as cost advantages. This report reviews the status of these displays and controls and the concerns that may be raised in their relation to the driving task. 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Inchc* — s oc 0 37 •C v :-v TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Design Criteria 2 2.0 DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY 6 2.1 Display Evolution 6 2.2 Electronic Display Technologies 6 2.3 Future Display Technology 2* 3.0 CONTROLS 25 3.1 Control Automation 25 3.2 Future Trends in Control Design 29 4.0 FUTURE EFFORTS 33 5.0 CONCLUSIONS 35 APPENDIX A - FordTrip Monitor A-l APPENDIX B - Etak Navigator B-l APPENDIX C- VDO City Pilot C-l APPENDIX D- NRV-II Nissan Research Vehicle D-l APPENDIX E- Developments inElectronic Displays and Controls E-l APPENDIX F - "1995" Buick Questor F-l APPENDIX G- "Electronics in the Passenger Compartment," Radio Electronics, Sept. 1985 G-l APPENDIX H- Control Systems H-l REFERENCES R_1 LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 1 Traditional Analog Display, 86 Rolls Royce 7 2 High Technology Display, 86 Subaru Turbo 7 3 Cadillac Eldorado and Seville Cluster 12 * Buick Riviera and Regal Cluster 12 5 86 Pontiac 6000 STE Instrument Cluster 12 6 86 Mitsubishi Starion Instrument Cluster 13 7 86 Ford Taurus Instrument Cluster 13 8 ALPS, Inc. LCD Display 1* 9 Bosch, Inc. Integrated Dashboard 14 10 86 Renault Encore Electronic Instrument Panel 15 11 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Cluster 15 12 ALPS, Inc. LCD Display 16 13 Chrysler Navigator t6 14 Chrysler Travel Computer 16 15 Ford TRIPMINDER 17 16 Pontiac STE Driver Information Center 17 17 Chrysler Electronic Monitor 17 18 86 Buick Riviera GCC Summary Page 19 19 86 Buick Riviera GCC Radio Page 19 20 86 Buick Riviera GCC Trip Computer Page 20 21 86 Buick Riviera GCC Trip Data Page 20 22 86 Buick Riviera GCC Gauges Page 21 23 86 Buick Riviera GCC Diagnostics Page 21 24 86 Buick Riviera GCC Climate Controls Page 22 25 86 Buick Riviera Dashboard with GCC 22 26 Ford TRIP MONITOR Main Pages 23 27 86 Isuzo Impulse Instrument Cluster with Pods 26 28 86 Pontiac Grand Am Dashboard with Climate Control and Stereo System 29 29 86 Pontiac 6000 STE Climate Control and Stereo System 30 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Comparison of Display Techniques 8 2 Electronically Displayed Functions • 9 3 Electronic Display Milestone Events 11 vii/viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides an overview and description of "high technology" electronic control and display systems found in today's vehicles and discusses potential future developments in these systems. The report describes the need to integrate this technology into the driving environment, thereby enhancing safety, convenience and comfort without degrading or distracting from the primary driving tasks. Automotive manufacturers are beginning to develop methodologies for evaluating the impact of these new technologies on safety, but at present no single methodology exists. This report outlines the requirements for such a methodology. New display technology utilizes electronic graphic displays to replace, expand, and augment more traditional analog displays. The advances in microprocessor technology and related cost advantages have fostered a new era in displays and controls. The Japanese car manufacturers have made the greatest use of the technology in this field with the European manufacturers adhering to the more traditional type of display/control systems. The U.S. manufacturers occupy a middle position. Four main types of display technologies are available, vacuum fluorescent, liquid crystal, light-emitting diodes, and cathode-ray tubes. The advantages and disadvantages of each type regarding resolution, brightness, color, cost, and other features are described in the report. These display types are now used for instrument clusters (speedometer, tachometer, odometer, temperature, and fuel gauges), radios, clocks, trip function and driver information monitors. New vehicle diagnostic systems continuously monitor up to twenty vehicle functions and alert the driver through both visual and auditory warnings of an out-of-specification condition. A likely future trend in display systems is the use of the multi functional cathode-ray tube (CRT) type display for systems which provide detailed information. The 1986 Buick Riviera is an example of this application. The CRT can provide an interface for vehicle systems such as status, climate control, and audio entertainment systems, and also display maps required for navigations systems (i.e., Etak Navigator). A good indicator of the use of CRTs in the future is the extensive use of them in concept cars.