Aptera User Interface

[grauss-thierry]

I would like to have some RS-484 or RS-232 connector (or ethernet) which would allow an Arduino or other microcontrollers to easily connect to the Aptera. It would be useful for those who want to add buttons to control the car (open and close windows, change radio, have some special display, control the charge via a custom app, have buttons to control the HVAC…

I know that you could do this via an OBD-2 adapter, but it is less risky to have an other interface that is offering a “no risk to break anything” connection to the Aptera.

[jerry-freter]

Also being able to extract the data to a spreadsheet would be useful. At least the energy usage for each leg of a trip, between stops/turning it off. I’d like to be able to see how much of an impact speed, AC, heat, wind/temperature have on the energy consumption. My daily commute is 55 miles one-way so I would love to have the data so I can optimize my trip to balance energy use against speed/conditions.

[Shawgrin]

Have yet to work on an electric vehicle with an OBD2 port. OBD2 ports were designed with emissions in mind. If you work on electric vehicles with OBD2 ports I would like to know which ones they are so I can check them out.

I just researched some vehicles use a OBD2 port with adapters to get their cereal data. The OBD2 connector is not necessary for most of the information.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Vernon Michael Gardner.

[kerbe2705]

@Vernon Michael Gardner One place to start is to check the vehicle compatibility list for A Better Route Planner: They list which vehicles need to have an OBDII port with a Bluetooth dongle to connect to the full version of the app. As I recall, it’s pretty much ALL of them – except Tesla.

[Qiang]

The Gamma version has a dashboard display for the sideview monitors. Personally, I prefer a single long display similar to those in BMW i4 or Ioniq, than tesla’s center display. Feel safer with a display higher up to help keeping the eyes on the road. What do you guys think?

[steven-g-bueche]

I thought there was going to be the center display in front of the steering wheel for left and right mirrors. they should either be constantly on or come on when you use the turn signal. Meantime they could function as a regular display giving minimal information (Speed, Charge level etc.)

[jerry-freter]

I like having a small side mirror-like display near the sides of the car. MY current car I am used to looking in the mirror on the right, then turning my head a bit to ensure no one is in my blindspots, then changing lanes. It doesn’t seem natural right now to look at the center of the dash to see the right or left camera view. I think I would adapt. I am finally used to my backup camera and trusting it more than I did. It only took 3 years with my current car

[Qiang]

I heard you, Jerry. Looking for sideviews in the middle does appear unnatural at least in the beginning. Maybe a long screen with sideviews on either end will help.

I saw this Honda concept EV back in 2017 (link below). The exterior looks plain at best, but two interior features I like: 1. the long single screen; 2. the front benchseat – I think the front benchseat may be the easiest way to make a three-seater Aptera even though the middle seat may just be for a small kid.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/honda-urban-ev-concept/

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Qiang Fu.

[Pistonboy]

I would like to see the center rear view screen placed above the yoke and between the two side view screens.

When the driver looks up, they have a panoramic view of what is in front of them. When they look down, they would have a panoramic view of what is behind them.

No other vehicle has this. It would be an Aptera first. You know some vehicle will have it in the future, so why not have Aptera make history and be the first!

(If one is wanted overhead in the usual place, an additional screen can be there too. It is possible to have two screens.)

[joseph-wall]

That sounds fantastic. That’s exactly what I thought when I saw the gamma teaser shots, it really needs to have one more screen in the middle.

[jeffrey-young]

I would like to see dual camera’s used on all four simulated mirror views (sideviews, rear view and backup view) with a glasses free 3D viewscreen (much like the Nintendo 3DS) for the driver (and passengers) to enjoy.

[dirk-wright]

Why no heads-up display? Why have a dangerous computer screen bolted to a bracket on the dash when a heads-up display is far safer, lighter and more efficient? Why does Aptera think they need to copy Tesla Model 3 to be legitimate? The Model S has the screen integrated anyway, which is far safer in an accident. Airbags can fail, and brackets can break during an accident, so the current version is unsafe. A heads-up display is safer, more efficient and lighter weight than a screen with brackets stuck to a dash.

[john-malcom]

No heads up display was in the design or engineered into the vehicle. A little late to question that decision at the Gamma prototype stage. Nothing wrong with emulating the most successful, highest selling EV in the world. it is desirable enough that many EVs emulate it to some degree.

I drive a Model 3 and am very satisfied with its interior design so will be happy with the Aptera. If there are minor irritants I will adjust. I’m in it for the efficient performance.

[Qiang]

I think many of the interior “nice-to-have”s mentioned in the forum, such as HUD, heated seat, lumbar support, cargo divider, solar sun-block screen, etc, can be done after-market. May not be as elegant as OEM but mostly doable.

I am sure many diy-minded reservation-holders in this forum will have a field day engineering customized solutions to their Aptera once they have their hands on it.

[joe-lyddon]

How will the software be updated with New revisions, etc.

Will it be automatically done like Tesla does?

Thank you.

[paul-schultz]

Yes, it has been mentioned in the past that Aptera will have OTA updating.

[gil-beja]

Hi all,
I’m a future owner of this magnificent dolphin/aircraft/car from the future…
and since i can’t wait for it already, and am a product designer… i decided to try to envision a nice unique UI for it.

I came up with something that is inspired by the solar panels and gives users control of the most important features of the car…

Here are two variations (A/C controls layout are different)

[I can’t post links here, gets the post deleted, but there’s a sweet charging animation between the panels.. wish i could show the mockup]

Let me know what you think

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Gil Beja.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Gabriel Kemeny.

[Sam]

I’m sure your design is great but I’d personally like to try what they’ve built while working with Crank Software and perhaps others.

[ray-holan]

Nice effort there, Gil. I see it echoes the diamond positioning of Aptera’s solar cells.

[peter-wilson]

I am really unhappy with the two side view screens placed directly in front above the steering wheel. The placement of the side view screens/mirrors at either end of the dash or on the A pillar has the benefit of bringing your peripheral vision into play for elimination of the blindspot that usually exists at the rear corners. I very nearly wiped out a motorcycle recently who was positioned off to the side of the rear of my vehicle just out of view from the side mirror. If I hadn’t had to turn my head to check the mirror I wouldn’t have seen him.

Put the side view screens on the doors or at the sides of the vehicle please.

[george-hughes]

Interesting idea about the placement of the main rear-view.

The main criticism of Aptera’s rear view system seems to be that there may be a blind spot at the rear that a motorcycle could hard to see.

I believe the proximity sensors may go bananas over such a close encounter.

[chris-hale]

I would hope that whoever is test driving the Aptera is looking at all possible problems that could be associated with the current locations of the screens, cameras, sensors etc. These are safety issues, and they need to make sure that the Aptera isn’t an accident waiting to happen. The way that the Aptera is built it would be difficult to look back in either direction to check for blind spots.

[Pistonboy]

I like the idea of placing the center rear view screen in front of the driver, between the left and right rear view screens, thus creating a panaramic view of the rear (see first post).

I expressed this to Chris at the Fully Charged gathering in San Diego . He said that is the plan for the future.

[colen-thomas]

Will there be any plans to allow owners to add features that were not initially purchased, such as lane keeping or adaptive cruise control, through upgrades to software?

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Colen Thomas.

[Greek]

There are things that I prefer not to use a computer screen for automotive functions.

Unlocking/Opening doors from the inside

Power windows

Wiper Function

Starting APTERA / gear selection

Cruise control

Internal hatch release

Lighting…inside and outside

I am hoping that this is something that we can let APTERA know what people on this forum are wanting….PLEASE I am sure there are other ideas or wants you may have to add or can live without.

[michael-jordan]

I agree. I have a hard enough time dealing with the radio controls while driving my wife’s car. Touch screen controls may be fine for glass-smooth roads, but when you have bumpy roads, it becomes very difficult to hit the right spot on the screen while not taking your eyes off the road. When trying to change from my wife’s awful XM radio station to an FM station, I usually end up sending the system to check the phone. Then, I have to go back to the radio, then the FM. Sometimes this happens more than once. This is not a way to select a turn signal. There are some things that God and GM got right along time ago.