Mini has unveiled an exciting peek into the future with its latest innovation: Mini Mixed Reality. This cutting-edge technology merges the virtual and real worlds, revolutionizing how drivers experience the journey.
Imagine stepping into your all-electric Mini Cooper, putting on a VR headset, and instantly entering a dynamic virtual world. The car’s windows turn into screens, displaying a vivid Mini Virtual Reality World created with the latest VR technology.
While immersed in virtual scenes, drivers remain fully connected to their real environment. External cameras feed live images, ensuring safety and awareness of the surroundings.
This dual-reality approach boosts the visual excitement of driving and integrates smoothly with the car’s real-world navigation. At the core of Mini Mixed Reality is a powerful PC, custom-built to operate the exclusive MINI VR World software.
This system sends content to the VR headset, ensuring precise tracking and synchronization with the car’s motion sensors, ambient sound settings, and integrated vehicle interfaces. These elements combine to create a highly immersive and interactive driving experience.
Mini asserts that Mini Mixed Reality is more than just an innovative feature. It’s a deep dive into the creative essence of Mini Design and reflects the brand’s core values. This technology could transform our driving habits and offer new ways to see the world, providing a new lens to view our surroundings.
Mini uses this technology for extensive testing and development as part of the BMW Group. this includes user studies to improve automated driving technologies. The potential uses for this technology range from gaming collaborations to innovative partnerships, envisioning a future where driving and digital entertainment merge seamlessly.
Safety and regulatory hurdles remain a primary concern before this technology can become mainstream. However, Mini is dedicated to devoting the necessary resources to refine and potentially mainstream Mini Mixed Reality.