AUDIO MOBIL ignites innovation fireworks at the IZB 2018

As part of the IZB - Volkswagen's international supplier fair - AUDIO MOBIL will be presenting completely new human-machine interfaces from October 16 to 18, 2018. Bundled in a fully functional prototype, AUDIO MOBIL will be presenting the iCS, an operating concept of tomorrow, and Personal Audio, a platform for in-car communication and listening zone separation.

Haptic / visual operating concept

The iCS - the interactive communication steering wheel - represents the essence of seven years of basic research and describes a steering wheel concept of the future in which all the necessary input and output sources are available to the driver in one place.

Whether navigation, climate control, vehicle status overview or radio operation. All this and necessary features such as light control, speed display and horn can be operated on the iCS. Attention has also been paid to safety: With a full-size airbag, the operating concept is suitable for all vehicle types.

The prototype is fully operational and has already been extensively tested in real-life operation. Numerous test subject studies have provided enthusiastic feedback.

Acoustic HMI

"Acoustic HMI is the implementation of individual audio zones in a vehicle. Each passenger has an active headrest with loudspeakers, completely independently of each other. These are controlled by amplifier electronics that enable each headrest to play individual acoustic signals," explains CEO Thomas Stottan.

The system is designed in such a way that each seat has a Bluetooth interface via which the respective passenger can connect to their headrest or zone. "This results in four individual acoustic zones that can be controlled independently by each passenger," says Stottan, explaining the "Active Zone Separation®" system developed by his company.

"Additional applications include a separate voice control for each seat in the vehicle and personalized information such as navigation information for the driver and simultaneous phone calls for the front passenger. The arrangement of the loudspeakers significantly improves intelligibility and thus increases confidence in acoustic interaction," says Stottan, confident of the many advantages of this new HMI interface.