Design of instrument cluster for automobiles

Abstract: This master thesis commenced in the beginning of September 2006. It was
performed as a part of the project OPTIVe (Optimized System Integration for
Safe Interaction in Vehicles). OPTIVe’s purpose is to investigate, evaluate
and demonstrate methods and technical solutions for safe, efficient and
cost effective integration of HMI systems in cars. It is a cooperative
project between Volvo Car Corporation and Luleå University of Technology
among others, which were also the assigners for this thesis.

OPTIVe has executed surveys in USA and Sweden about which information
instruments the driver desires to have displayed in the automobile and on
which display. The purpose with this master thesis was to compile the
answers regarding the instrument cluster and analyze which information
instruments should be placed in that display. The results would be
different design concepts suitable for Sweden and USA and if possible a
concept suited for both countries.

The result of the survey, when both countries were taken under
consideration, was that the users desired to have the warning symbols Low
oil pressure, Low fuel level, Parking brake engaged, High motor
temperature, Charging system failure, and ABS failure displayed in the
instrument cluster. The driver instruments desired were Speedometer, Fuel
level and Motor temperature level indicator and no In-vehicle technology
instruments. This lead to that four different concepts were designed which
were suited for both countries. The first two concepts had a simple and
clean design which was further developed into two new concepts with more
decorations. When comparing the countries and the genders, instruments and
warning symbols that will differ is the Tachometer, Low tire pressure and
Engine in need of service.

Testing the four concepts in the eye-track lead to discussions about
changes and improvements that could be made and also, to a questionnaire
handling the speedometer. The new questionnaire was conducted since it was
discovered that the pointer of the speedometer in all four concepts was a
new idea in this context and the question was if it attracted the drivers
or not, if the standard speedometer was more popular, or if a combination
of the two was more likely to please. The speedometer questionnaire showed
that the idea itself was good but that a combination between the standard
speedometer and the modern speedometer was more popular. The combination
speedometer will therefore be used in all the concepts.