Hypervisor separates software worlds in the dashboard: Page 4 of 6

software worlds safely and securely is one main factor for higher integration in the cockpit. The driver is another. After all, it’s the person behind the wheel who has to handle the multitude of systems and information sources on top of controlling the car. There’s no doubt: Being “Always on” provides more valuable information, better driver support, e.g. by dynamic navigation, plus additional services to increase the comfort of driving. To make this new level of connectivity usable, the human machine interface (HMI) needs to adapt to the growing number of functions and services. One key modification is to look at the HMI as one consistent and comprehensive system instead of a set of individual displays.

Within such a holistic HMI, any information or message to the driver can be shown on any of two or three displays in the cockpit: Cluster instrument, Head-up display (HUD) and central information display (CID). The difference to current HMI strategies lies in the flexibility. If a driver is navigating through dense urban traffic, the information he needs is strongly filtered to bring the load down to an absolute minimum which is displayed in the HUD, where the driver can perceive it while her or his eyes stay on the road.

If, however, the same driver is going down a motorway with little traffic, there is no reason why the number of an incoming call should not be depicted in the HUD or cluster instrument. However, if the driver starts a maneuver such as a lane change and the lane change assist functions detects a vehicle coming up from behind at high speed, the available display space plus other communication channels need to be freed immediately for this highly safety-relevant information. This requires a holistic control architecture.

This kind of flexible HMI makes the best possible use of the available communication channels that connect a driver with the car, Fig.4. Depending on the traffic