From this year's Tokyo Motor Show Mitsubishi Electric (not to be confused with Mitusbishi Motors - but its motor and inverter supplier) will present its latest, and fourth generation, EMIRAI demonstration electric vehicle (see the third here and the second generation here).
The EMIRAI 4 Smart Mobility Concept is equipped with the latest driving-assistance technology, which could reduce traffic accidents and help contribute to increasingly safe, convenient and environmentally friendly transportation.
It's an open question whether Mitsubishi Electric will unveil also some new electric drive components, that often are used by Japanese manufacturers; but the smart money says they will, as they now have a couple large potential customers as part of Mitusbishi's tie-up with Nissan and (by extension) Renault.
Under the theme of "Feeling with you; convenient, safe and comfortable for each one", development of the new concept car has drawn on three specific fields of research: electrification, autonomous driving, and connected. The EMIRAI 4 features next-generation driving-assistance technologies such as human machine interface (HMI), driver sensing and lighting system. HMI innovations incorporated in the EMIRAI 4 design include:
- Heads-up display with augmented reality: augmented reality, using high-accuracy locator combined with high-accuracy 3D mapping and positioning technology, emphasizes road and white lane displayed on heads-up display to guide drivers safely even in bad weather and other low-visibility conditions.
- Knob-on-display: an intuitive sliding knob enables drivers to operate various functions without taking their eyes off the road. Functions accessible via the sliding knob can be easily amended and consolidated into specified groupings, helping to simplify the center interior.
- Crossed images display: a half mirror with diagonal LCD panel and vertical virtual image from another LCD panel provide clear 3D images of the environment around the vehicle and easy-to-see alerts in the form of vertical images.
Driver Sensing
A wide-angle interior camera monitors both the driver and the front passenger by detecting the passengers' heads and postures to alert potentially dangerous driving behavior and provides safe and smooth switchover between automated to manual driving. This system also provides comfort for each one by changing air conditioning settings, etc.
Lighting System
Sensors in the car body detect when a door is about to be opened on, which activates an illuminated indicator that is projected onto the road surface and another indicator illuminated on the car body, both of which help nearby vehicles and pedestrians instantly recognize that a door is about to be opened.