Be it current information about the company or new Marquardt products, you can download our press releases here.

    DemoCar 2.0 interacts with driver and environment

    Marquardt presents the vehicle interior of tomorrow

    02.05.2023

    A green light band signals autonomous driving, blue the conventional driving mode.
    • Functional Surfaces: dynamic surface light animations with hidden additional functions
    • Hidden Features: printed electronics under the surfaces warm up the interior
    • Surfaces made of genuine materials provide a comfortable ambience
    • Smart charging with touchless display

    Rietheim-Weilheim, Germany, May 2023 - High-quality surfaces made of fine woods and fabrics, equipped with numerous hidden functions that turn premium vehicles into mobile living rooms and capitalize on the trend towards autonomous driving: this is how Marquardt sees the future of vehicle interiors in the automotive upper class. The mechatronics manufacturer shows in its new DemoCar 2.0 how a vehicle interacts with its occupants when autonomous driving becomes the norm in this vehicle category in five to ten years. Then, the driver must feel as safe and comfortable as at home and be able to rely on his car to have everything under control.

    The car communicates with the environment

    "Emotional, with more character" - that is how Felix Hake, Team Leader of Product Management Innovations at Marquardt, describes the future of the vehicle cockpit, and it is apparent from the moment you enter for vehicle. An intelligent door, based on Marquardt's keyless Push’n’Drive 3 authorization system via smartphone, detects the driver's intention and opens automatically only when the driver reaches out. The door also has bright matrix LEDs that illuminate the floor and signal danger to approaching cyclists. "In this way, the car communicates with the environment," explains Hake. Autonomous vehicles can use this optical warning function instead of eye contact to communicate with pedestrians at crossings.

    Smart surfaces generate light and heat

    In the vehicle interior, smart surfaces made of genuine wood, fabric, and synthetic leather radiate peace and security and provide a comfortable ambience. Light applications are hidden behind door surfaces, generating homogeneous heat and comfort-enhancing light. Mechatronic controls give the interior more character and value. Thus, Marquardt-developed door openers and seat adjustment switches are extremely flat, only 3-4 mm thick hybrid control elements that work digitally using capacitive sensors, although they still appear and feel mechanic.

    Display sensor detects malfunctions

    The autonomous vehicle of the future is characterized by numerous displays that occupy much of the driver's view. To guarantee safety and ease of use, it is crucial that all functions and parameters are correctly and completely displayed. Otherwise, the vehicle may need to limit or restrict certain functions. However, Marquardt has introduced a novel printed sensor that allows the system to identify and respond to faulty or malfunctioning displays. This technology elevates the displays to the ASIL C functional safety level.

    Steering wheel attracts attention

    The glowing manufacturer logo above the airbag on the steering wheel draws attention. It's not a mechanical component, but electronic components that are injected into IMSE technology in two plastic films, lighting up the emblem with a total thickness of only 3-4 mm.

    On the sides of the steering wheel, two rectangular glass stones catch the eye, containing an integrated display and creating a spatial effect. “Every time it's shown to customers, the desired wow effect is always achieved,” says Felix Hake. The two displays are controlled by rotary wheels, which Marquardt intentionally designed as a nod to the traditional mechanical control elements. The wheels' visual and tactile contrast with the displays and smart surfaces achieves the intended effect.

    Green light band signifies control

    Once the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, a green light band illuminates the steering wheel and signals that everything is under control, time to relax. The seat moves back for more legroom in the comfort position, the movable control element in the center console moves closer so that it stays within reach, and a large display like a movie screen comes into view of the driver. The driver can now watch videos or use their mobile phone, which is securely locked in the center console. All functions and entertainment features are accessible via a multi-functional rotary controller in the center console. Its "active haptic" gives the user a gentle feedback on every hand movement and thus guides them intuitively through the vast menu."

    Smart charging with contactless display

    The charging process at the rear of the electric vehicle is just as smart as the features inside. It is done through the Interactive Charging Socket (ICS) developed by Marquardt. Light also plays a crucial role here. Micro-LEDs create a light band around the charging socket, which transmits information through different color combinations, such as the charging status. Marquardt calls this light concept "Smart Light Line" where smart LEDs with microchips are applied to a punched grating.

    This way, each LED can be individually controlled via a masterboard. The charging unit also includes a novel display where the user can enter the charging mode, touchlessly. The display is reflected by a glass panel and displayed in the room, similar to a hologram. Felix Hake calls this hygienic operating concept a forward-looking solution."

    Download Press Release DemoCar 2.0 (10 MB, ZIP)