Hyundai develops high-end AI-based infotainment system for its next-gen sedans

Hyundai Motor Group has developed a new integrated infotainment system featuring Augmented Reality-based navigation and an in-car payment system to boost its presence in the rapidly growing global car infotainment market. The new system will be installed in Hyundai's next-generation vehicles.

The latest infotainment system, based on Hyundai’s exclusive ccOS (Connected Car Operating System), houses an Augmented Reality-based navigation system, an in-car payment system, Touch Pad with handwriting recognition, and a better-connected rear-seat infotainment system.

The AR navigation system provides users with precise turn-by-turn GPS-based guidance with the added convenience and safety benefits. The new AR feature uses a camera attached to a vehicle to implement a GPS navigation system, then display the information on an AVNT (Audio Video Navigation Telematics) monitor. With the AR feature, the driver is guided by a virtual path on the monitor. Unlike conventional path-finding services which displayed routes to a driver's destination over a map, the new system shows routes over real-time view of the road ahead to prevent the driver from taking a wrong turn.

It also incorporates the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features such as lane departure and collision warnings to improve safety. The system is expected to give more precise driving assistance to drivers.

Hyundai says the new infotainment system sill support in-car payment system for the first time in Korea. The technology allows drivers to pay for fuel or parking by just touching an AVNT screen without cash or card. The state-of-the-art payment system will also support membership cards. As a car approaches a gas station or a parking lot, the AVNT screen will inform the driver. The recognition service allows the driver to handle all the payment process directly on the display of the infotainment system with a finger. Although GM or Ford has provided payment systems by cooperating with other service providers, Hyundai is the first among automakers to develop a whole payment system platform.
The company has partnered with gas station operator SK Energy and parking service provider Parking Cloud, as well as six credit card companies including Hyundai, Shinhan, Samsung, Lotte and BC to offer the service. The partnerships will continue to expand to various other criteria as well.

Touch Pad with handwriting recognition-controlling AVNT screen

The system is also equipped with a handwriting recognition technology that allows users to write with a finger directly on the screen to find a destination or make a call. Through the Touch Pad with handwriting recognition, the handwritten character recognition service allows the driver to control the car's features by writing words directly on the display of the infotainment system with a finger. It can also recognize and understand the driver's voice commands or even a single gesture to control the system. HMG announced that the interactive multi-function controller features a Concave surface tempered glass touchpad for smoother handwriting.

In addition to phone calls, navigation, or other infotainment systems, the new AVNT system will recognise voice commands so that the driver could simply say 'close sunroof' or 'open window'. Hyundai will also let drivers send text messages through Kakao Talk by talking to it, and sync calendars, reminders, and tasks from iCloud or Google among multiple users―and alert everyone of trip updates and changes.

Hyundai Motor offers connected car service 'Car to Car' for the drivers to share the location of their cars among the BlueLink, UVO, and GCS(Genesis Connected Service) users. The Car-to-destination guidance also features the function to guide passengers to their destination more precisely using a mobile app, after they parked their cars. The 'Valet Parking Mode' keeps the private information of the driver from other people who are driving the car temporarily and informs the driver about the location of the car. The Remote 360 view sends videos of the surroundings of the parked car, and the 'Multi-Connection' function can connect two different Bluetooth devices. ‘Neon view’ provides various navigation themes to the driver. Hyundai expects to support its customers with upgraded services and various features.

Choo Kyo-woong, head of Hyundai’s Infotainment Development Center, said “The newly developed infotainment system supports a variety of cutting-edge technologies to enhance drivers’ convenience and safety. The system is expected to not only make driving safer but also give customers a great pleasure to enjoy latest technologies.”

The new infotainment system will be ready to go on Hyundai’s full-size sedans in the second half of 2020.