Trident Displays

Abstract

Product Design for Manufacture

Client: Cabvision, suppliers of taxis and advertising solutions, collaborated with Trident Displays, a multinational electronics manufacturer, to develop an in-car advertising and entertainment display system.

Aim: Trident Displays Ltd contacted and commissioned PDR to design, prototype, tool, and implement an in-cab advertising and entertainment display system that would comply with stringent safety requirements of the Hackney Carriage Board Inspection. The aim was to retrofit a high quality 12" TFT display system into two variants of London black cabs.

PDR designed, tooled and implemented the Trident in-car entertainment system; including, the electronic shield cans for low electronic emissions for car occupants, cosmetic interface panels, vibration proof fixing methods, installation jigs and securing parts. As no CAD data existed for the trim panels, PDR reverse engineered the cab interiors by utilising non-contact 3D scanning software. Using this data PDR evaluated whether it needed one or two fascia mouldings to suit each cab variation. Facia panel parts were textured to match existing vehicle interior components. Materials were selected to avoid vandalism, survive the rigours of high usage transportation and in car environmental conditions, and pass vehicle legislation. PDR supported initial builds to allow rapid response to build issues.

Trident represents the first GPRS linked advertising/entertainment system for public transport. Trident also represents a first for utilising rapid manufacturing to produce robust, multi-functional drilling marking out and trimming jigs for dressing the blank interior panels to accept the display assembly.

In April 2005, 2000 London taxis were fitted with the Trident display system. Since completion Trident have received enquiries for placing the system into the latest cab model (TX4), and were recently asked to the U.S. to discuss implementing the system into New York taxi cabs.

http://www.cabvision.com/