We live in a world where convenience and simplicity are king. And this goes as far as digital dashboard displays. Consumers want displays which are intuitive and have an element of similarity across machinery and industries. This makes operating machinery and devices much easier for the operative as well as for the engineers who are maintaining them.
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have fully embraced this concept and have ensured that all human-machine interfaces (HMI) are similar enough to make the lives of the machinery operatives simpler. With evolving technology applying similar software coding to different interfaces is becoming much more straightforward.
One such innovation is that most dashboards are moving away from indicator and switch arrangements to multi-purpose digital displays with touch screens.
A smart phone for your dashboard, essentially.
Not only are these easier to repair should they go wrong, but the data is more accurate, the touchscreen solution brings an array of data into one viewpoint and merges functions and minimizes clutter making the dashboard easier to read.
A fully customized display can offer a unique user experience while meeting the needs of the machine itself. Customers are moving away from the ‘one size fits all’ model where they are paying for unnecessary functionality and are requesting bespoke options which suit the requirements of their lifestyle and their vehicle.
In order to guarantee the most effective digital dashboard display, it’s essential for the user to identify what they require from their vehicle, and how they want to access the data as well as the environment the dashboard will be expected to function in. Then it is possible to create a perfect dash in one of three ways:
- 100% bespoke software
- Pre-loaded off the shelf software
- Tools for the customer to self-develop
It all comes down to the engineers and the customers asking the right questions in order to get the answers that will help guide the development process. Questions could involve:
- Location and mounting options – Changing to a digital display unit could require reconfiguration of the dashboard mount.
- Conditions the machinery will be expected to operate in – Will the dashboard be used on a marine vessel, underground or in a dusty, wet or extreme environment?
- How data will reach the display – It’s important that the display will be compatible with CAN inputs and outputs.
- How much and what type of data will be stored, displayed or reported – Knowing how much and what type of data is required for the display or to share with other devices will guide the right dashboard configurations.
- Security elements (e.g., passwords) – Identifying what level of security will need to be embedded into the software is required from the start of the dash building project.
- Screen design – What customized elements are required for the screen design?
- Ongoing support – Identifying the level of ongoing support is also key with any new dashboard project to ensure that the product has a long working life.
Options
There are various options for your digital displays which include monochrome, color, round and touch displays in various sizes ranging from 2.3 inches to 7 inches in diameter depending on your requirements.
Most have a combination of digital and analog inputs meaning they are ideal if you are updating your analog gages for digital ones. At Veethree the largest includes 14 analog inputs, and four digital inputs ensuring all your devices will be running through the same display and streamlining your dashboard.
To find out more about the displays available at Veethree head over to our display product page or speak to the team about how we can customize them to suit your requirements.
