Heads-up display technology has its origins in aviation: the first iteration of the tech was gotten Utilized on British Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter planes as far back as in the 1930s, with their expected gunsights. The technology has advanced significantly since, and every following generation of HUD has been capable to show more data with better and better clarity.

Heads-up display was mainly made to permit pilots to have access to all the relevant data without having to look down at their tool panel, hence decreasing distraction and, more significantly, keeping them alive.

Advantages of Heads-Up Displays

The Heads-up display is mainly an active security feature as it doesn’t need the driver to look down at a conservative display panel. Heads-up displays these days can also show data like warning lights and engine revs, navigation guidance, therefore significantly restraining the number of times a driver requires to take their eyes off the highway. The feature also has a certain feel-good and tech-savvy reason for going for it.

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Types of Heads-Up Displays

Presently, there are two main kinds of HUD systems obtainable in the auto sector – reflection-based and projection-based. The former utilizes LED lights or, more recently, lasers, to show data like speed, rev counter, turn-by-turn navigation, and real-time fuel consumption on a specially treated part of the windscreen. With this choice, the final photo is quite clear, with little to no light bleed showing in darker driving conditions. However, this system is expensive and more complex to implement.

On the other hand, reflection-based HUD systems, as the name says, utilize a digital screen that displays the wanted data (making use of positive and negative spaces) reflecting on a precisely made glass screen.

This system is not as sharp and also has advanced light bleed when utilized in dark situations, compared to the projection-based system. But what makes it beneficial is the significantly inexpensive price tag and the fact that it can be utilized as a plug-and-play solution in the majority of cars without much standardization. The simple principle it works on has also led to this kind of HUD being the main choice of after-market HUD accessories, with some utilizing a smartphone and an app to make the reflection.