Takata CSW: A Heads-Up Display at Your Fingertips

What you see here is a pretty bad-ass concept developed jointly by Navigon and Takata. If you've followed this blog, you'd know that the new Navigon 7100 is one of the most cutting edge and sexy PND's (Portable Navigation Devices) for 2008. But Takata is a name you've probably never heard before. Takata is pretty well-known in the OEM automotive industry and develops little things like airbags, seat belts, fabrics, steering wheels, and other automotive safety devices.

Well in a small corner of Navigon's CES booth, was the display you see here. I was able to get a little bit of information out of the Navigon guys, but they weren't allowed to divulge much more than what was on the show display. So what is this funky steering wheel, what does it do, and why is it so special?
Click through at the jump to find out and to check out more pics!

The Takata CSW and the Navigon 7100 link together through a communication protocol known as PNI (Portable Navigation Interface) developed by Takata and Navigon. The 2-way communication sends safety and navigation instructions from the Navigon 7100 to the CSW. The link also allows the PND to access key vehicle data such as gyro and speed pulse information. Using Bluetooth, the Navigon 7100 can send speed limit information, speed warnings, turn guidance, lane guidance (the 7100 has Lane Assist technology), ETA, and distance to next route maneuver to the Takata CSW. The takata can also control the nav's main features.

The CSW has a basic LCD display built into the center of the wheel and two ancillary displays on either side of the main display for additional warning/driver information. The CSW is designed to reduce driver distraction by providing a basic display that offers key navigation and safety information, and can be interpreted via peripheral vision. 

So isn't it bulky? Isn't it distracting when to have a display on the wheel when I turn? Nope and nope. The display is comfortable and sits rather flush. When you turn the wheel, the display fades off as you approach the 3 and 9 o'clock position. The center LCD can display up to 180 different icons (for now) and the ancillary displays shine green, yellow, or red depending on what kind of warning or information being provided.

So is this actually going to make it to market? Or is this a pipe dream?

It's coming to market. In fact, it's almost here...

1addicts.com recently reported on all the accessories available for the upcoming 1-Series BMW and after speaking with my contact at Takata, I found out the hi-tech accessory BMW steering wheel pictured in the catalog is a Takata device. The BMW wheel is a little different as it links via the BMW's complicated databus system, although for all I know, Bluetooth could play a part somewhere. (May I suggest handsfree caller-ID in the LCD display?) When equipped on the BMW, the Takata wheel will offer:

• Stop watch with hh: mm: ss
• Start/stop-function as well as Reset-function
• "Race-mode" stop watch with mm:ss:ms with a built-in launch detection to start the clock
• Memory of the top 10 runs
• 1/8-mile and 1/4-mile run timing (again... Launch detection)
• Reaction time values for the 60´, 330´ and 1000'
• Detection of the acceleration times for
• 0-40 km/h, 0-60km/h, 0-80 km/h etc. until 400m as well as detection of the total time and speed in 400m, with memory of top times
• Engine temp
• Positive, negative and lateral g-forces
• 5-LED from the slim ancillary lighting on either side of the wheel

The above was translated from German, so excuse any slight inaccuracies or missing info. :)

Here are a bunch of pics courtesy of the guys at 1addicts.com of the BMW production wheel.

Comments

[kap0w]

That is pretty damn sweet! We started with no tech, then we got sort of kludgy tech, and now we're starting to see clean integration. It's still a bit gee-whiz (how many stopwatches do you really need?) but I can see this being really useful and built right, it makes technology a seamless part of your car. Nice work!

[Murph]

I want one.

[Hayden]

Great blog..!

[Mouhamad A. Naboulsi]

CheeeChiiinng See my site. We have patents granted and pending in the U.S., EU and Japan. We actually submited an document to interfere with Takata Petri cliams and it is already posted on the EU website.

[Chris - Takata Holdings, Inc.]

"Takata ... develops little things like airbags, seat belts, ... "

'Little' things? We like to consider them a bit important, lol. Most wouldn't think an airbag or seatbelt system was that advanced, that you could just throw it in any vehicle and have it protect you. There's so many variables that go into their development; it's a system, not just an individualized device. Everything comes into play. Vehicle speed, vehicle angle of impact, occupant position (closeness, sit angle, body weights/characteristics), etc.