January 9, 2020 – Unity Technologies has announced this week that the company is collaborating with NXP Semiconductors N.V., a provider of automotive semiconductors, to develop a Human Machine Interface (HMI) toolchain that creates modern vehicle experiences in mass production vehicles. Operating on NXP’s i.MX 8QuadMax Applications Processor, the toolchain will give automotive manufacturers (OEMs) the ability to tap into Unity’s real-time 3D rendering technology.
The collaboration will enable drivers to experience Unity-powered content — from real-time navigation and advanced visualization for self-driving vehicles to personalized driving features, 3D maps, access to Unity games and more — regardless of the vehicle trim level or cost.
“Every driver wants to stay connected to their devices, but for the value-minded driver that is often not an option unless they are willing to buy a higher-priced trim level or luxury car,” said Tim McDonough, General Manager of Industrial, Unity Technologies. “Unity’s collaboration with NXP provides the opportunity for immersive HMI systems to be placed into all vehicles of all costs, allowing consumers to have a high fidelity and immersive interface so they can play games, connect their smartphone and engage with their vehicle.”
Unity states that its real-time 3D platform allows OEMs to shorten timelines for HMI prototype development and production and increases efficiency and speed by offering a “best-in-class experience” to UI/UX designers, artists, developers, and engineers. The platform also offers a unified HMI toolchain covering the full product cycle of design, prototyping, development and mass product deployment. Customizable content created by Unity’s millions of developers can also be found on the Unity Asset Store. The Unity NXP collaboration makes it easier for OEMs to bring their HMI designs to production with NXP chipsets.
“NXP’s i.MX 8 QuadMax applications processors are powering entirely new, personalized and interactive control hubs that are fueling immersive infotainment experiences of the future,” said Ron Martino, Vice President and General Manager, i.MX applications processors for NXP Semiconductors. “With expanded digital clusters, our innovative infotainment and in-vehicle automotive solutions adjust to driver preferences seamlessly, while advanced HMI support enables voice commands, gestures, augmented reality, and advanced personalization – all with an eye toward driver safety.”
In addition to its collaboration with NXP, Unity works with eight of the 10 largest automotive OEMs in the world by helping improve the way they design, build, service and sell automobiles. The company stated that it is continuing to invest in its automotive and manufacturing business by bringing in talent from 3D, AR and VR, as well as automotive experts from companies like BMW, Toyota, Volvo, and the Volkswagen Group.
Image credit: Business Wire
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.