Continental has unveiled a project focusing on the detection zone of gestures on the steering wheel, using a time-of-flight sensor, which is integrated into the instrument cluster.
“With gestures in a clearly defined area on the steering wheel, we can minimise distraction and increase safety,” said Continental Interior head of strategy, system development and innovation, Ralf Lenninger.
“This narrowing down also prevents the driver from unintentionally starting gesture-based control by means of their usual everyday gestures and thus making unwanted selections.”
By swiping up and down, the driver scrolls through the board computer menu.
Continental maintains the operating concept integrates into the holistic human-machine interface and can replace other elements such as buttons or even touch-sensitive surfaces on the steering wheel.
Instead, it uses two transparent plastic panels, without any electronic components, behind the steering wheel, which a driver can operate with his thumbs, almost like a touchpad.

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By GlobalDataTo select sub-menus of an app or to find a song, the driver swipes horizontally on the gesture panel.