Hongqi Model Smart Surface
A concept design of the smart surface system for the Hongqi model
With the development of car interiors in the direction of individualization and focus on texture, the increase in human-vehicle interaction has resulted in more sophisticated functional integration in the limited interior space, which has also prompted the emergence and development of smart surfaces. Hongqi's new model is developing in a more intelligent direction and at the same time integrates a variety of innovations and emerging technologies, such as HUD, different levels of assisted driving and the intelligent surface of the passenger's decorative panel. We try to design the decorative panel in the passenger area of a traditional car into a smart surface screen that can be operated by users, increase design flexibility while integrating different HMIs, and work with suppliers to challenge the development process when the 3D surface is large. There are many problems such as the positioning of the film and the false touch and pressing feedback on the interaction.
ABOUT
Background：
The purpose of this project is to explore the conceptual design of the smart surface applicable in the Hongqi car series, and to do forward-looking research and design guidance for the mass-produced models of the car.
Challenge & Outcome:
Different from the triple screen or co-drive screen of new energy models, we hope that the decorative trim can be integrated with the interior of the vehicle in design, and consider how to integrate more functions on the small-sized screen. Create a user experience that is different from that of the driver for the passenger of the co-driver, and solve the problem of false touch and press feedback in the manufacturing process and interaction.
My role：
I am responsible for user research in the project, product conceptual design and visual and interactive design of the operating system. And cooperate with interior designer and supplier company to produce decorative panel samples and rendering effects.
PROCESS
In order to carry out the best HMI innovation, we divided the entire project into three phases:
01 Research & Discovery
In the research phase, user interviews and car owner questionnaires help us understand user needs. Through the bidding of competing products and the communication with the prototype suppliers, we have developed insights into the technical development and manufacturing data of the prototypes. The results of these investigations and explorations have brought us into the conception stage.
02 Ideation
At this stage, we started the first version of the product prototype design through the research results and the production of prototypes, collecting more information and generating ideas to explore more opportunities. At the same time, cooperate with the interior designer to consider how to integrate the prototype into the styling style of the vehicle interior.
03 Definition & Visualization
In the final stage, we completed the interactive prototype and prototype production of the HMI system. Through the process of defining and visualizing the concept design, we render the model and assemble the product to the prototype for testing, expressing our concepts and ideas in an intuitive way.
01 RESEARCH
After analyzing the models of different brands between 150,000 and 800,000 that have been sold in the market in recent years, we found that the design of the co-driver's decorative trim mainly plays a role in matching the overall shape of the interior.
Most decorative panels have no actual function. Decorative panels are more inclined to be used on the passenger glove box:
1. Reflect the texture through different materials
Use solid wood panels or imitation wood grain to reflect the sense of luxury, or use carbon fiber materials to reflect the brand's sporty atmosphere.
Image source: BMW M3 2021
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2. Match the atmosphere light to enhance the atmosphere
Cooperate with ambient lights and car interior light sources to highlight emotions
Image source: Mercedes-Benz S500 2021
3. LOGO nameplate shows vehicle information
Such as Audi Quattro (four-wheel drive) models, Mustang 2.3T 50th Anniversary Edition exclusive nameplate
Image source: Audi A4L 2020
Taking into account Hongqi’s vehicle positioning, most of the target users’ co-pilots are frequently used. We can speculate that the target users in the X, Y, and Z eras will drive vehicles alone less and less, and the co-pilots of vehicles will often When people are in a seated state, the frequency of using the back seat after marriage will also increase.
Born after 2000
Relationship status: single/in love
Marital status: Most unmarried
Ride situation: 80% drive alone, occasionally picking up friends, lovers and family
Data source: Hongqi car owners' statistics in 2020
Born after 1990
Relationship status: single/in love/married
Marital Status: Married and gave birth (50%)
Ride situation: 65% drive alone, will pick up wives, children, pets and the elderly
Data source: Hongqi car owners' statistics in 2020
Born after 1980 or 1970
Relationship status: single/married
Marital Status: Married and gave birth (70%)
Ride situation: 50% drive alone, often pick up wives, children, pets and the elderly
Data source: Hongqi car owners' statistics in 2020
By studying the riding behavior of users of different ages, we have extracted the following high-frequency behaviors and scenarios that co-pilot passengers will have when riding:
1. During most short-distance or long-distance journeys, the co-pilot will feel that there is nothing to do
During the journey, the driver assumes the most important driving task. While focusing on the road, they must also undertake the task of adjusting the environment in the cockpit, such as setting up navigation, adjusting the temperature of the air conditioner, and playing music. The co-pilot does not need to participate in driving tasks. They spend most of their time in the cockpit on playing mobile phones, listening to music and watching the scenery.
2. Co-pilot passengers are increasingly pursuing personalized riding experience in the car, such as switching Bluetooth to play their favorite music
During the journey, co-pilot passengers who have a close relationship with the driver tend to pursue a personalized ride experience. For example, set a customized temperature in a vehicle with a zoned air-conditioning configuration, play your favorite music and radio on the car, and adjust the seat angle that is more suitable for you.
3. Co-pilot passengers who have a close relationship with the driver tend to establish an emotional connection with the vehicle or cockpit
Passengers who are closely related to the driver, such as girlfriends, wives, etc., will develop an emotional tendency toward the cockpit over time. For example, stickers, dolls or cushions placed on the passenger cabin. While gradually transforming the co-pilot cabin to be more in line with their own comfortable experience, it also deepens the emotional connection between passengers and the vehicle.
02 IDEATION
According to the user needs obtained through our research, we divided the needs into three directions:
Actively establish emotional connections
Actively interact with passengers
Enhance passengers' sense of substitution
Participate in driving tasks, assist the driver to complete from point A to point B more completely and quickly
Passenger experience with exclusive co-driver
Redefine main functions for co-pilot passengers
Let the driver focus on driving, and the passenger becomes the navigation
When the driver concentrates on the driving task, the co-pilot passenger can still help the driver enter the destination, make route planning, and reduce the potential safety hazards caused by the driver using the central control or mobile phone navigation without disturbing the driver.
In the process of driving, let passengers feel the passion and fun of driving
In a traditional rally, the task of the navigator is to sort out road information and help the driver reach the finish line. In daily driving, we can also design a vehicle state observation mode for passengers. In the observation mode, we can view the vehicle's speed, driving mode, speed, tire pressure monitoring and other auxiliary driving information
Actively establish emotional connections
The vehicle recognizes the passenger's identity through Bluetooth, and displays the passenger's exclusive welcome interface after the passenger gets on the vehicle, and the passenger can collect favorite music, radio stations, etc. on the co-pilot screen. Customized design for the passenger’s experience. For example, the passenger’s display screen can switch the Bluetooth connection to switch and play the music that the passenger and the driver like.
03 VISUALIZATION
By analyzing data such as user behavior and gestures, we designed ergonomic smart surface decoration samples and comfortable interior space for users, and used inductive touch switches to automatically wake up the operation screen
Co-pilot decoration panel size
The interactive screen of the co-pilot trim adopts an inductive touch screen to provide users with the best operating experience
Smart screen that can wake up automatically
When the user's finger is close to the veneer, the inductive proximity switch will automatically wake up the screen. When it is not operated for a long time, the screen will automatically reduce its brightness without disturbing the sight of the driver and passengers.
INTUITIVE OPERATION
Design principle: unified UI and intuitive operation
By establishing a standardized, modular and customizable UI, the interaction is more intuitive, so that users can get the same user experience on the car screen as using a smartphone.
Navigation function
Let the driver focus on driving, and the passenger becomes the navigation
Functions include: viewing road condition information, adding stopovers (gas stations, toilets), intelligent driving assistance reminders (pedestrian monitoring, merging assistance, etc.), navigator mode (helping the driver plan the fastest route, modify the destination, etc.)
NAVI-MAP MODE
In map mode, the screen displays the remaining time of the current journey, road status information and assisted navigation, Passengers can view real-time journey progress and remind the driver to choose a suitable route
MULTIMEDIA
Free music enjoyment
Functions include: play or switch music, adjust volume, create exclusive music playlists, etc.
DEVICE
One key switch mobile phone Bluetooth connection
Functions include: switch the Bluetooth connection of the mobile phone, help the rear passengers to add or delete device connections, etc.
EXCLUSIVE WELCOME INFORMATION
When the system recognizes the passenger’s Bluetooth connection, the passenger can set and save his own welcome message. The welcome interface can be set to display weather, schedule reminders and nickname avatars to create personalized settings and deepen the emotional connection between people and vehicles
PERFORMANCE
In the process of driving, let passengers feel the passion and fun of driving
Functions include: viewing vehicle speed, rotational speed, driving mode, tire pressure monitoring, performance meters, etc.
PERFORMANCE-DASHBOARD
Passengers can view the vehicle's instrument information under the performance panel, including speed, driving mode, kinetic energy consumption, tire pressure monitoring, etc., to enhance passengers' sense of substitution and make the journey more interesting