A Review of Augmented Reality Heads Up Display in Vehicles: Effectiveness, Application, and Safety

This paper reviews the evolution of driver displays, focusing on the transition to Augmented Reality Heads-Up Display (AR HUD) in vehicles. It compares AR HUD with traditional HUD, emphasising safety, cognitive workload, and user experience. Particular attention is given to AR HUD’s role in automated vehicles, especially during driver handover from automated to manual driving. Findings suggest AR HUD can enhance safety and user experience when applied effectively but may increase distraction and cognitive load if misused. Benefits include improved navigation through reduced cognitive load, decreased inattentional blindness, and better obstacle detection, such as identifying pedestrians. A notable gap in the literature is that AR HUD is often studied as an extension of the main driver display rather than as a primary display. This review highlights AR HUD's potential as the sole display, emphasising the need for further research. Overall, AR HUD presents transformative possibilities for enhancing vehicle user experience.