Concept car development is one of the core stages involved in producing the next generation of vehicles for any modern market. To truly innovate in the automotive space, companies need to be able to experiment with new materials, ideas, and technologies on a massive scale. Unfortunately, exploring new prototypes and designs can be an expensive, and time-consuming process.
Developing a concept from a sketch or virtual 3D model into a physical solution is an expensive process, which can often involve many major delays for business leaders. Phiaro, one of the up-and-coming brands in the concept creation landscape, has experienced these challenges first hand.
In an attempt to overcome some of the difficulties associated with building powerful new vehicles, the CEO of Phiaro decided to leverage the power of extended reality, with a little help from Varjo.
Streamlining Concept Car Creation
During the early 2020s, Phiaro began looking for new ways to reduce the cost and time involved in transforming concept car sketches into real, drivable objects. The company had already begun to discover the benefits of VR for viewing real-size static models of vehicles from all angles. However, they felt static solutions simply weren’t enough.
Phiaro engineers and creators want to experience the designs they were building in motion, and unlock new opportunities to test the experience each vehicle could offer. The team began working on a project to help drivers step inside 3D-rendered vehicles for the first time. To begin, they created a simple metal structure with just the core features required for locomotion. They then mounted the hardware for inside-out positional tracking into the vehicle.
Using the Varjo XR-3 headset, the team was then able to combine a real-time video feed, with 3d car renders, built within Unreal and Unity software. Users driving the physical base vehicle could then see both the actual road through pass-through technology, and the 3D car interior. The Varjo XR-3 headset allowed Phiaro to leverage everything from front-mounted cameras and LiDAR sensors, to create an experience which truly connected the physical and digital worlds.
Changing the Future of Innovation
The flexibility of Phiaro’s base vehicle, combined with the power offered by Varjo’s intelligent XR solutions, opened the door to a new era of creativity for the concept car company. The brand can even use the project for innovative simulated test scenarios, exploring the impact of different driving situations on the performance of new vehicles. Phiaro also has the opportunity to add haptic feedback to physical controls, and user-test optimal interior setups for autonomous cars.
With its new project, Phiaro is laying the foundations for automotive designers to leverage the true power of mixed and virtual realities. This new in-motion setup highlights how the right use of XR hardware can unlock new opportunities for time and cost savings in even the most complex industries.
The project, now known as NGDP1, has proven to be a crucial internal tool for Phiaro, and has helped the company to generate significant industry interest. More than 450 visitors from tier 1 suppliers and OEM companies came to see a demonstration of the software in 2020 alone.
While the initiative is still in its relatively early stages, both Varjo and Phiaro believes this technology will introduce a new wave of concept car innovation in the years ahead.
