Continental: Head-up Display in the Tram

Continental has developed a head-up display (HUD) for trams. The display solution from its own development and production service provider, Continental Engineering Services (CES), aims to make urban road traffic safer in the future - as tram drivers can fully focus their attention on the events on the road. This can also reduce the number of emergency braking, for example. Trams mainly operate in dense, often confusing urban traffic. An environment where the number of unprotected road users is increasing: More people are cycling, using e-scooters or compact electric scooters. In addition, many road users are distracted by using their mobile phones. This, according to transport companies, leads to an increasing number of accidents involving trams.

Order from a Previously Unnamed Manufacturer for Rail Vehicles

The display will be used in Europe starting in the middle of this year. This marks significant pioneering work by CES: up until now, true head-up displays have not existed in rail transport. Essential components of the display, including the powerful light source, come from Continental's automotive portfolio and are installed in various vehicle models from major automotive manufacturers.

“With the development of a head-up display for trams, we are taking a big step towards increased safety in urban rail transport,” explains Dr. Christoph Falk-Gierlinger, Managing Director of CES. “Information that has previously been displayed on various cockpit instruments can now be positioned in the driver's field of vision via a central head-up display. The driver's eyes are not distracted from the traffic. The journey becomes safer, both for the driver and for the passengers."

Head-up Display helps prevent collisions in road traffic

The advantages of using head-up displays in rail vehicles are immense. The trend there, similar to the automotive sector, is towards ever larger windshields and consequently deeper built-in dashboards. However, necessary head movements distract from the traffic situation. In addition, the eyes are constantly focusing back and forth between near and distant vision when shifting the view between the cockpit and the road. This is very tiring for the driver. The projection of essential information - for example, warning signals, speed, distance to the next stop - in the driver’s direct field of view makes the ride more comfortable and therefore safer. Especially because the information is virtually displayed as if it were some distance in front of the vehicle.