Volvo
- Buttons to be replaced by large tablet-like touch screen
- Innovative, intuitive technology that is easier to use
The designers and engineers behind Volvo’s All-New XC90, which will be revealed later this year, have completely re-conceived the way drivers operate their cars by dispensing with the normal array of buttons and replacing them with a large tablet-like touch screen, head-up display and thumb controls on the steering wheel.
The result is the most modern in-car control system on the market, which is crucially easier to use, ensuring drivers will be able to keep their eyes on the road as much as possible while operating or making adjustments to the system.
It also uses the car’s interior space far more efficiently and offers a range of additional benefits such as integrated cloud-based applications for music streaming and other services, such as the world’s first integrated Park and Pay application, and the ability to mirror and use Apple iOS devices in the touch screen display.
“As cars increasingly become more connected to the Internet and are able to offer a far wider range of functions and entertainment services, the way in which the driver interacts with the car’s systems is becoming progressively more important,” said Dr Thomas M. Müller, Vice President Electrics/Electronics & E-propulsion engineering of Volvo Car Group.
“It is essential that these services are offered in a way that does not reduce safety levels and in a manner that is easy to understand and optimised for the driving task.”
The typical driver control system available in other premium cars on the market can involve 30 or more buttons spread across a dashboard, making it challenging for drivers to locate and operate, and threatening to distract their attention.
Sensus – instinctive understanding
Volvo’s new interface, part of Sensus, incorporates the latest touch screen hardware and software to allow drivers to build an instinctive understanding of how the system works, where the controls are located and how to operate them.
“Smooth interaction without distraction has been the guiding expression for our designers and engineers. The in-car control system is designed to keep eyes on the road and hands on the wheel as much as possible,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Volvo Car Group’s Senior Vice President Design.
The new in-car control system is just one of many examples of how the All-New XC90 has been designed around the needs of the people who are going to drive it.
How does the new in-car control system work?
The touch screen replaces the traditional selection of buttons and controls in the centre stack with one sleek control panel. This central panel interacts with an adaptive digital instrument cluster in front of the driver, while vital information is projected on the head-up display on the lower part of the wind