CES 2021: Panasonic Showcases Latest Developments, Collections To Help Customers Adapt to The New No

Credit: Panasonic

Panasonic’s newest innovations in automotives, batteries, and other industries were designed to bring users a “better life and a world for customers” at CES 2021.

“It has been a year… of uncertainty, loss and challenges that affected every one of us,” said Lauren Sallata, Panasonic North America’s Chief Marketing Officer. “But it has been a year like no other because of the way we have taken on those challenges with resilience, spirit, and an astonishing capacity to adapt.”

Sallata added that “Adaptability has always been a core principle at Panasonic.” A statement which rang true with the products the company presented at the event.

These products were designed to keep people safe and secure in their homes, cars, and even with the food we eat during the current pandemic. One such product is the Welcome Aboard Collection.

Credit: Panasonic

Welcome Aboard Collection

The collection includes the nanoe Air Cleanser powered by Panasonic’s nanoeX Technology – an air purification module which produces hydroxyl radicals proven to inhibit bacteria, odours and is confirmed by Texell to inhibit viruses including COVID-19.

The nanoe Air Cleanser was initially intended for airplanes in 2020. However, the health issues brought up by the pandemic pushed Panasonic to re-imagine it to the collection presented at the Event. It is now used in other establishments like homes, hotels, trains, and even elevators.

Smart Lockers

Panasonic and its Hussman Division developed Smart Lockers for the food industry and school cafeterias to address the need for contact-less food pickup.

Panasonic North America CEO Michael Moskowitz explained that Smart Lockers have designated storages for hot and room temperatures. When a customer’s order is complete, they receive a text containing a passcode or QR code to open their assigned locker.

This also holds true with other Hussman developed refrigeration units like the Smart Exchange Lockers made for the food retail industry that is currently seeing action in the US. StoreConnect, another Hussman developed product, is used for commercial refrigeration, while Aperion helps customers reduce shopping time through their physical tags.

SPYDR

Panasonic also revealed their SPYDR platform which makes a user’s car feel like their second home. Scot Kirchner, President of Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, explained that the platform is a cockpit domain controller powered by Google’s Android 11 and merges a hypervisor from OpenSynergy.

“That means you don’t have to choose between comfort and safety.” Kirchner said.

He also added that SPYDR can have up to 11 displays for distinct or shared content. It can broadcast audio seat-by-seat or as one shared experience. The resulting audio is the product of a collaboration between Panasonic ELS Studio 3D, Fender, and Klipsch – three of the world’s top audio brands.

Augmented Reality (AR) Heads-Up Display (HUD)

Kirchner also announced that Panasonic is developing the next generation of Augmented Reality (AR) Heads-Up Display (HUD). This new AR HUD will be projected at a car’s windshield providing the driver a more intuitive information compared to traditional HUDs.

A representation of Panasonic’s next generation of AR HUDS. Credit: Panasonic

The AR HUD also utilises hologram technology through a collaboration between Panasonic, Envisics and Phiar, a Palo Alto-based start-up company that specialises in using artificial intelligence and AR to enhance vehicular navigation.

With the new AR HUD, drivers will no longer have to think about what the information on the HUD means and will be able to focus more on the road. It is equipped with road sign detection, object detection, Predictive Assist and Low vision Assist to name a few.

For more information on Panasonic’s CES presentation, visit Panasonic’s CES Newsroom.