Mobility with children is the central theme of the “KIDs CAR” research project. The goal of this project is to make travel more comfortable for children on long car trips. In the framework of analyses of the current situation, investigations and customer surveys, a requirements profile was worked out that gives clear direction to these ideas and reveals the needs that are relevant to parents and children.
Ideas were generated in response to the following customer wishes for children age 0-7: Dirt & safety, support for parents, comfort for children, multi-use, sleeping and car and child appropriate toys.
A number of different interdisciplinary areas of the corporation were involved in coming up with ideas for these topics. Take the example of Volkswagen’s Autostadt (“Automobile City” exposition center): A workshop was conducted in the internal company Autostadt kindergarten on the topic of “Children design the vehicle interior”. Volkswagen also worked together with the only institute of higher education in Europe for learning and toy design (Burg Giebichenstein / Halle a. d. Saale). There ideas were conceptualized on toys that were appropriate for children, their development and the car environment.
KIDs CAR also dealt with the question that all parents know very well: “When will we be there?” The reason for this question is based on principles of child development, including the child’s limited perception of time and a very strong internal drive to move, primarily among preschool and elementary school children. Created especially for this age group was a children’s navigation system with a child-appropriate representation of the travel route. This program contains trailers that explain sights along the way. To make it easier to understand, the travel route is always shown on one page. The travel time is displayed to the children by a so-called “time worm” that “eats” the length of the driving route. The highlights depicted symbolically on the page provide the children with orientation assistance at all times. There is a virtual friend who accompanies the children during the drive and provides for games, fun and entertainment. This friend indicates travel breaks and inspires the children to make small movement exercises in their child seats.
At sleep time the virtual friend grows tired and closes its eyes with the children – the system then transitions to a standby mode. The children navigation system has educational value and is not just a continuous entertainment program for children.
Implementations gleaned from the ideas were integrated in two vehicles: The Touran from Volkswagen and in the Audi Q7.
Details of the Touran:
Coverable extra mirror in the mirror triangle of the A-pillar that offers an optimal view of the second row seats.
Retractable protectors can be integrated for seats and seatbacks, which are easy to assemble/disassemble and clean.
Lateral support elements on headrests with integrated loudspeakers.
Sun protection rollup shades, retrofittable.
Seatback panel with integrated universal display bracket (adjustable in height and position), painting surface, storage bin and footrest.
Additional side door panel with child-appropriate storage bins, integrated drink holder and reading lamp.
Starry sky projector for a pleasant atmosphere.
Convenience station with drink warmer/cooler and waste container for all seat rows and moist wipe dispenser on the center console.
Rotating base for child seat so that children can be placed in their seats without the parent needing to bend over into the car. This also makes it easier to fasten the seat belts.
