Stellantis Patents Holographic 'Driver' to Win Over Skeptical Passengers

Getting into a self-driving car with no one at the wheel can be unsettling, even for those who trust the technology. A new patent filing from Stellantis, discovered by CarBuzz, proposes a solution straight out of science fiction: a holographic chauffeur projected inside the vehicle.

The patent, filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), describes a system that monitors where passengers sit and look, then uses in-car projectors to display an avatar of a driver on the windshield, similar to a head-up display. This digital figure would use machine-learned expressions, sync its mouth with generated speech, and make eye contact when talking.

Passengers could even customize the avatar's appearance to feel more at ease.

Stellantis also outlines a more advanced scenario: when a remote human operator needs to intervene, such as when the vehicle leaves its operational area or faces an unusual road situation, the same projectors would show a live image of that remote driver, making it seem as though they are physically present.

The operator could then acknowledge issues and reassure passengers directly.

The patent notes that such filings are often used to protect intellectual property and do not guarantee the technology will appear in production vehicles. Still, the idea of a virtual driver, even a floating image, could help bridge the trust gap for people hesitant about fully autonomous cars.