Several manufacturing companies presented their vision of the technological future of cars
Virtual Car Showroom & Training Simulator
Fiat presented its owncar dealership in the metaverse. With the help of a virtual space developed on the Microsoft Azure platform, the buyer can refuse to go to the store and interact with real sellers. As envisioned by the developers, everything necessary can be done in a virtual environment: chat with the seller, configure the future car, conduct a test drive and make a purchase online.
It is noted that although the full experience of virtualpresence is provided only with the use of a VR headset, users can enter the digital car dealership simply through a browser on a computer. The developers note that a full-fledged virtual car dealership can also be deployed at dealerships to enable customers to view models that are temporarily out of stock.
Fiat Metaverse virtual showroom at CES 2023. Images: Stellantis
Fiat is not the first company to offervirtual car dealership Last year, a similar development was announced by General Motors, which launched the MyWay hall. The technology is being used for remote demonstration and purchase of Chevrolet, Codilac and GMC vehicles produced by the automaker.
Chevy MyWay virtual showroom. Video: Chevrolet
Experts note that the possibilities of digitalcar dealerships are not limited to selling cars. Modern models are equipped with a large number of additional features that may not be intuitive to buyers. This problem can be solved in a digital environment with a virtual simulator, in which the driver learns about the capabilities of the car much faster than watching a lot of YouTube videos.
Metaverse, production and maintenance of machines
Opportunities for learning virtual realityprovides not only for future drivers, but also for the training of engineers who assemble these cars. Various automotive companies are actively testing the possibilities of the metaverse in order to reduce costs and increase the efficiency of production staff.
For example, Toyota Motor and Mercedes-Benzused virtual reality conference opportunities to train car service technicians instead of sending them to a regional center. This approach gives service center representatives around the world access to proven training materials and the opportunity to practice the skills of servicing a particular car, without interrupting their main work.
Ford has a similar solution, andNissan even trains the staff of its own production units in virtual reality. In addition, automakers note that the capabilities of the metaverse can be used to bring engineers and technicians together in one virtual space to quickly and efficiently solve problems that a customer has contacted a service center. This, experts believe, will help reduce the time of complex repairs and return the car to the user faster.
Virtual driving adventure
Despite the many examplespractical application of virtual reality technologies, in the mass consciousness it is still most often associated with entertainment. It is not surprising that car manufacturers have not gone through this direction as well. At CES 2023, various manufacturers showed how the Metaverse can be integrated into the interior of a car.
The developers note that with the spreadof electric vehicles, even taking into account the fastest charging, the driver has free time at the gas station. This is about 20 minutes, during which the car does not move and this time can be devoted to virtual reality.
Peugeot Inception Concept. Video: Peugeot
Chrysler Synthesis Concept. Video: Stellentis
Companies offer different solutions, for example, inPeugeot Inception developed a pop-up panoramic screen for video games, and a virtual music synthesizer was installed in the Chrysler Synthesis showroom model.
When you are at the charging station, youthere is a whole 20 minutes of downtime. This is a good time for games, entertainment services, or a synthesizer application. You can create your own music or, if you like, do yoga or meditation.
Chris Fewell, Chrysler CEO
But BMW went the furthest.In the BMW i Vision Dee (Digital Emotional Experience) concept, the automaker integrated a virtual environment directly into the driving process. This became possible thanks to the projected panel into which the entire windshield was turned.
BMW i Vision Dee at CES. Video: BMW Group
The user can customizevirtuality level. At its simplest, the screen simply displays information about the operation of the machine. In more advanced ones, you can view messages from your phone without being distracted from the road, and the intelligent support system will monitor and warn of dangerous situations, for example, a cyclist in a blind spot. And at the highest level, the entire space surrounding the road can be replaced by a virtual environment.
While it is difficult to say how new technologieswill interest users. How many buyers are willing to forgo a real car test drive in favor of a virtual one and explore new features in a virtual environment. But one way or another, new technologies have already changed the auto industry, and it seems that this is only the beginning.
Read more:
The strongest class X flare occurred on the Sun
Engineers figured out how to keep drones in the air "forever"
The secret of the durability of Roman concrete is revealed: it can be restored