Optical Systems as basis for innovations in Comfort, Safety and Driver Assistance
The mobility of the future is being shaped by increasingly complex information and systems that affect all road users and their environment at every level. Our innovative optical systems are helping to overcome the challenges in comfort, safety and driver assistance and pave the way for the development of new features. At ARRK Engineering, our core competencies lie in display systems, lighting systems and image processing as an integral part of connected systems.
Interdisciplinary development, testing and integration of optical systems
Our competence area Optical Systems covers all disciplines involved in their development, especially components and systems for connected display systems, lighting systems, projection systems and image processing. ARRK Engineering undertakes the whole development process from concept and series development right through to testing and integration, working closely with our ARRK subsidiaries who are responsible for prototyping, tooling and low volume production.
Display systems
Central and connected display systems are a key component of safety and comfort features in today's vehicle concepts. For over 20 years, our 120-plus employees have been developing advanced systems from standard displays, to head-up displays, right through to the latest augmented reality features.
Click here for an overview of our display system expertise, components and tools
Expertise
- Requirements management
- Specification of HMI and display and operating components
- Optical simulation and reflection analysis
- Opto-mechanics (design/integration/packaging)
- Hardware and software engineering
- Testing and validation
- Measurement and laboratory systems
- Mechanical and acoustic testing
- Project management
- Quality management
- 3D visualization, user experience and rapid prototyping
Components
- Head-up displays (windscreen HUDs, combiner HUDs and augmented reality HUDs (AR HUDs))
- Central information displays
- Rear seat entertainment
- Combi instruments
Tools
- ASAP
- CATIA
- Fred
- Light Tools
- Lucid Shape
- SPEOS
- ZEMAX
Lighting systems
We support our customers in the development of innovative lighting systems by providing optics and design expertise in headlight, tail light, interior lighting, projection solutions and ambient lighting. To bring intelligent lighting solutions to market, we run optical and thermal simulations, design optical components and housings taking account of design and functionality, develop hardware and software concepts, and supply prototyping solutions. All legal requirements and international quality standards are implemented.
A glance at our lighting system expertise, components and tools
Expertise
- Requirements management
- Optical simulation
- Reflection and stray light analysis
- Opto-mechanics (design/digital modelling of surfaces/integration)
- Hardware and software development
- Mechanical and thermal simulation
- Testing and validation
- Project management
- Quality management
- Prototyping
- Homologation
- Technologies: Halogen, LED, OLED, matrix beam
Components
- Low and high beam
- Matrix beam
- Adaptive front lighting
- Direction indicator
- Daytime running lights
- Cornering lights
- Parking lights
- Tail lights
- Brake lights
- Indicator lights
- Reversing lights
- Parking lights
- Reflectors
- Ambient lighting
- Reading light
- Orientation light
- Incident light
- Door handle lighting
- Luggage compartment lighting
- Glovebox lighting
- Displays
Tools
- CATIA
- LucidShape
- LightTools
- ZEMAX
- SPEOS
- Ensight
- Fluent
- FloEFD
- Modelling: ANSA
- Simulation: LSDyna, Pamcrash, Abaqus
- Postprocessing: Animator
Our lighting expertise - light pattern concept
Please see here a video of our own development of a functional prototype of a frontend with light technology. Headlights, illuminated logo and light signal bar are modelled on the human eye.
Camera Systems
Cameras play an important role as optical sensors in modern driver assistance systems and in autonomous driving. Whether as interior driver monitoring systems or external environment recognition cameras, they enable machine vision and facilitate the computer-aided image capture of the surroundings. As specialists in optics and driver assistance systems, we have spent many years developing, integrating, and securing camera systems. We design optical systems, integrate cameras into vehicles mechanically and electronically, and develop and evaluate image-processing algorithms, incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning methods.
Find out more details about our camera systems capabilities, components and tools
Capabilities
- Specification and Requirements Management
- Concept and Preliminary Development incl. Technology Selection and Assessment
- Series Development and Integration
- Optical Simulation, Specific Sensor Design
- Opto-Mechanics (Design and Integration)
- Hardware and Software Engineering
- Machine Vision and Image Processing
- Head and Eye Tracking
- Pattern Recognition
- Machine Learning, Neural Networks
- Component Testing and Problem Management
- Project Management
- Installation of Camera Systems in Test Vehicles including E/E Integration in On-board Networks
- Execution and Assessment of Test Person Studies
Components
- Camera-Based Driver Assistance Systems (KAFAS)
- Driver Monitoring Cameras incl. Direction of View, Eye Opening and Head Position Recognition for Driver Identification, Distraction and Fatigue Recognition, etc.
- Camera-Based Test Systems
- Ground Truth Systems
- Stereo Cameras
- Mono Cameras
- Infrared Cameras
Tools
- DOORS
- CATIA
- ZEMAX
- OpenCV
- Halcon
- CUDA
- Matlab
- Simulink
- TensorFlow
- Caffe
- Camera Lab
Visualization, Computer Graphics and HMI
With the aid of 2D/3D computer graphics we develop sophisticated user interfaces and visualize new concepts early before the components are fully designed. We develop human machine interfaces (HMI) from the concept to design and programming of all necessary steps, for example to bring to life elaborate 3D graphics on digital instrument panels or central displays. With the aid of visualization we are also able to simulate head-up displays with all optical features early in the development process, and make it possible to experience them with VR/AR goggles. This allows for early validation of concepts and provides a sound basis for decisions.
Click here for an overview of our visualization, computer graphics and HMI capabilities, components and tools
Capabilities
- Specification and Requirements Management
- Concept Development and Storyboards
- Graphic Design and Animations in 2D and 3D
- Graphics Programming and Software Development
- HMI Development (Human Machine Interface)
- Augmented Reality
- Virtual Reality
- Visualization
- Project Management
- Prototype Integration in Trial Vehicles to Make Concepts Tangible
- Performance and Evaluation of Test Person Studies
Applications
- User Interfaces for Digital Instrument Panels, Head-up and Other Displays
- Augmented Reality Goggles
- Visualization of Optical Systems
Tools
- DOORS
- OpenGL
- Vulkan
- Unity3D
- Photoshop
- 3ds Max
- Cinema4D
- Maya
- CGI Studio Scene Composer
- Axure
- Oculus Rift
- Microsoft Hololens
Prototyping, tooling and low volume production
The ARRK Group brings together lighting expertise, global production capabilities and a wide range of manufacturing techniques. From 3D printing, SLA/SLS (plastic simulant), CNC (plastic/metal) and vacuum moulding (plastic simulant) for rapid prototyping, through to injection moulding with aluminium or steel tooling for prototyping and small series production. We're among the world's leading partners in optical prototyping.
- Optical components
- Fibre optics
- Lenses
- Headlights
- Lighting solutions for show cars
See here for more details on the wider expertise of our sister company ARRK SPG Pre-Series Tooling & Prototyping B.V..