BME Researchers Develop Next-Generation Windshield Display

Researchers at the BME have reached a major milestone in a development that counts as a true novelty even in the international automotive industry: the university team has recently launched a radically new simulation system for a wide-angle head-up display (HUD) based on groundbreaking principles. Building on BME’s research results, a spinoff company established to commercialize the innovation — working together with industry partners — expects to have the first in-vehicle prototype of the next-generation display ready by 2027.

Displaying a wide range of driving information directly on the windshield can significantly improve road safety, as it allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road at all times. The adoption of such systems is forecast to accelerate in the coming years: while only about 2 percent of cars sold today are equipped with HUD technology, projections suggest that within 5 years one in five vehicles will feature such displays. Interest is also strong from the commercial vehicle sector.

“The head-up displays currently in use have serious limitations. They suffer from optical distortions and offer only a narrow field of view, making them unsuitable for augmented reality applications, where virtual elements such as directional arrows, highlighted objects, warning signals, or color-coded alerts can be projected into the real-world scene,” explained Pál Koppa, Professor and Head of the Department of Atomic Physics at BME. “Our goal was therefore to develop an innovative next-generation HUD technology that not only ensures a premium user experience, but also 

relies on radically new operating principles, providing a wide field of view that enables previously unthinkable levels of augmented reality.”

Developed within the framework of the National Laboratory for Autonomous Systems, the new HUD technology eliminates ghost images at the windshield’s edges and effectively suppresses reflections from ambient light, while also introducing two major innovations. First, it will be able to align augmented reality precisely to the driver’s point of view through the integration of an eye-tracking system. Second, it will not only display data from the vehicle’s own sensors but also integrate external information sources — for example, the digital twin model of the M1-M7 smart motorway section, developed jointly by Hungarian Public Roads and BME’s Department of Automotive Technologies, which provides a real-time, comprehensive representation of actual traffic conditions.

Beyond enhancing driving safety, the system also aims to elevate the overall user experience with striking new features. “This development also anticipates the era of self-driving cars, when the windshield will primarily serve entertainment functions. Until then, however, it can already be used in a dual mode — projecting driver-assistance information for the driver, while enabling passengers to watch a movie on the same display,” added Dr. Koppa. The new technology is also 

more cost-efficient than conventional ones, attracting strong interest from industry players. A vehicle-ready prototype is anticipated within two years.

The spinoff company aHead Photonics Ltd., created to commercialize the innovation, plays a key role in industrial adoption, prototype development, and preparing international market entry. Its mission is to transform the innovation developed at BME’s Faculty of Natural Sciences into a globally competitive product. To support this ambition, the company has secured significant innovation funding through the “Fast Track” program of Hungary’s National Research, Development and Innovation Office.

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