Industrial - Bachelors
The Sabre system uses advanced built-in cameras, ultrasonic radar and infrared detection to identify the vehicle’s surroundings and pedestrians and enhances driving safety by communicating with pedestrians through laser patterns projected onto the road.
As a design project for BMW Group + QUT Design Academy, I have thoroughly researched the context, technology and user needs of autonomous vehicles. We are currently at SAE Autonomous driving Level 3, which means some autonomous features can assist the driver in a better experience or driving the vehicle under limited conditions. These autonomous driving features have certain requirements for the stability of the traffic environment. And some data from a survey suggests that drivers perceive pedestrians as a potentially destabilising factor in the traffic environment, making it difficult to restrain their actions and lacking mechanisms to communicate with them. As the design opportunity was identified, I developed the idea of communicating with pedestrians through laser projection patterns
ENHANCE COMMUNICATION WITH PEDESTRIANS THROUGH A FRIENDLY AND DIRECT VISUAL OR AUDITORY EXPERIENCE
The vehicle’s wheels are covered by a housing with a screen and communicate with pedestrians by displaying different icons.
As the electric vehicle does not require a radiator grill, the shape of which is currently an essential part of the vehicle’s appearance, its profile and position are retained to continue the vehicle’s original design language, but it is converted into a front screen for displaying different content to communicate with pedestrians
Inspired by car door welcome lights: the use of light to project specific patterns onto the road creates a very direct and intuitive way of communicating with pedestrians
In the design process, I used the BMW M8 owned by QUT Design Academy as a reference, redesigned its headlights and embedded them in my Saber system. I respected and followed the design language of the original BMW M8.
Laser projection of patterns is not technically difficult to achieve. Patterns can be created either using a diffractive optical lens or by moving the beam fast enough to create visual persistence.
Leo has a strong passion for designing stylish products guided by a minimalist aesthetic. He follows the principles of intuitive design and is skilled in optimising the interaction between people and products. In addition, he is a designer who is concerned with sustainability and humanism. Through his designs, he hopes to contribute to a healthy coexistence between man and nature.