renault-backed ‘H1st vision’ tracks driver’s health & alerts them of road dangers while driving

H1st vision concept car by Software République

At Viva Technology 2023, it is not only LVMH and Epic Games that want to bring in new approaches to their brands. In fact, Software République – an open innovation ecosystem created by Atos, Dassault Systèmes, Orange, Renault Group, STMicroelectronics, and Thales – has introduced H1st Vision at the tech event, a concept car whose vehicle design can monitor the driver’s health and inform them of their state, and predicts road blocks and dangers to alert and let them make alternative-path calls.

H1st Vision, a moniker for ‘Human First Vision’, attempts to live up to its name: it is a human-centered car that aims to improve mobility by putting the driver and passengers first using a series of technological features. There are 20 human-centered innovations that are planned to be installed in H1st Vision. They are all operational, meaning they take care of the driver, their passengers, and other road users. These include an all-new and secure biometric access control, optimized vehicle range and charging, a driver and vehicle health monitor and assistant, and predictive alerts to protect occupants and other people on the road.

images courtesy of Renault Group

LCD panel replaces the conventional dashboard

Stepping inside H1st Vision by Software République may feel like gearing up for a driving game in an amusement arcade. The sports car-shaped steering wheel mimics the ones found in the arcade racing games, and the manual dashboard has been replaced by a lengthy LCD panel that flashes information to the driver and passengers, including their health state and the predictive alerts.

Attached next to the steering wheel, touch buttons are used to navigate the dashboard, and four smaller LCD displays sit next to them, showing various apps and functions such as for parking to assist the driver. Surrounding H1st Vision, large and panoramic windows generously give the riders scenic views of the outside, and the glass top of the vehicle lets the natural light in. The white seats are cushioned and wrapped in mesh, each equipped with abundant headrests typically found on trains and airplanes to allow some comfortable naps inside the car.

Eric Feunteun, the Chief Operating Officer of Software République, says that H1st Vision concept car hopes to unravel the decades-old expertise of the collective. ‘The H1st vision concept car is a connected, physical and virtual object that demonstrates both a robust method for collaboration between the partners and how the technologies of Atos, Dassault Systèmes, Orange, ST Microelectronics, Renault Group, and Thales complement each other to build the mobility of the future,’ he says.

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