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Land Rover to Incorporate OLEDs in Dash & Body Panels
November 11, 2019
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Jaguar Land Rover is working on completely swapping out the dash and body panels with curved OLED screens. Instead of simply replacing the instrument panel and cabin controls with digitalized displays, Jaguar Land Rover is researching how to replace entire structural components -- the dash, the body panels -- with electronic elements using LESA (Lightweight Electronics in Simplified Architecture) technology.
This tech is based on that of flexible wearables and OLED panels; entire panels throughout car interiors could potentially be replaced with highly customizable screens and touch sensitive displays that both streamline the cabin and offer customers 100% button-free designs. According to the company, digitalizing these architectural elements would allow for "customizable ambient lighting systems, body controls, wraparound button-less dashboards and advanced fabric/leather heated steering wheels." We're developing the Lightweight Electronics in Simplified Architecture (LESA) research technology for car interiors.
 

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Figure 1: Land Rover Next Gen Personalization
Source: Company
​Since these screens would replace a great deal of the wiring that would otherwise be necessary for physical controls, the weight of in-car electronics would be greatly reduced -- possibly up to 60% -- especially since this tech is compatible with non-metallic materials like wood. As a result, EV (electric vehicle) ranges can be increased, and the fuel efficiency can be improved. Thus far, LESA technology has been successfully demonstrated in a prototype which judges referred to as "the future of electronics in the car." When the tech will be advanced enough to be integrated into production vehicles has yet to be revealed.