Curation Engine User Interface
Client
Bentley
Description
User Experience Mode Selector
Date
2022
Activities
- Colour, Material and Finish
- Electronics Engineering
- Industrial Design
- Prototyping
- Software Development
- Testing and Evaluation
- Human Factors, Usability and Inclusivity
- Mechanical Engineering
Developing a new physical user interface
The Curation Engine is Bentley’s new physical interface developed to shape the sensory experience of the vehicle interior. Positioned at the centre of the cabin, this beautifully crafted control allows occupants to influence the dynamic character of the vehicle, orchestrating suspension, powertrain and driving attributes through modes such as Bentley, Sport and Comfort. However, the concept takes this further with a second layer of curation that extends beyond the mechanics of driving. Through immersive Experience Modes, lighting, sound and other sensory elements of the interior are harmonised to influence the occupants’ mood, atmosphere and wellbeing.
Working closely with the Bentley design team, we helped transform their initial crystal lens concept into a fully realised working system. The challenge was to retain the emotional quality of the original design while integrating the complex mechanical, optical and electronic engineering required to bring it to life within a production vehicle interior.
The Curation Engine works alongside Bentley’s new atmospheric Waterfall Lighting, which DCA also helped develop, extending the experience from the central control area across the wider cabin. Together, these two new interaction elements create a coordinated and immersive cabin experience, combining physical interaction, dynamic lighting and carefully controlled illumination to shape the character and atmosphere of the interior.
Engineering light, motion and optics
At the heart of the Curation Engine is a sophisticated optical and mechanical system that creates movement within the light itself.
Early investigations at DCA demonstrated that moving a point light source around a multi-faceted crystal lens generates constantly changing patterns of highlights, caustics, reflections and depth. Rather than simply varying the intensity or colour of a static light source, the Curation Engine physically moves and redirects light through the optical system to create a much richer visual effect.
Developing this principle into a working mechanism required the integration of multiple driven light sources, lenses and optical elements within a compact assembly. The solution was engineered to achieve precise relative movement between the light sources and the lenses, creating a dynamic light field that is projected across the surrounding interior surfaces.
Physically moving and redirecting light creates a dynamic, spatially expressive experience.
The resulting system produces complex visual effects including parallax, evolving beam overlap and gradients of light that sweep across the adjacent profiled surfaces. Subtle sinusoidal control of LED brightness, hue and saturation adds another layer of variation, combining the physical movement of the optics with changes in colour and intensity. This allows the Curation Engine to transition fluidly between a broad spectrum of behaviours, from calm ambient illumination to more expressive, dynamic sequences, reinforcing its role as a communicative interface within the cabin.
This combination of mechanical movement, optical geometry and electronic control is what gives the Curation Engine its distinctive character. The resulting visual experience is unique and could only be generated through the interaction of precisely engineered physical components.
Combining mechanical movement, optical geometry and electronic control gives the Curation Engine its distinctive character.
Mechanical complexity in a compact, refined assembly
A significant part of the development focused on packaging the mechanism into a compact assembly while preserving the refined tactile quality expected of a Bentley interior.
The system incorporates a central push-to-select mechanism, motor and gearing, precision bearings, driven light sources and a series of optical elements. These components have to work together accurately and smoothly to create the desired optical effects, while also delivering a high quality physical interaction for the user through the central control.
Iterative prototyping was used to develop both the mechanical assembly and the resulting light behaviour. Physical rigs allowed the team to evaluate optical effects, mechanical movement and user interactions simultaneously, progressively fine tuning the geometry, component arrangement and control strategy.
A complex optical and mechanical system packaged into a refined, tactile automotive interface.
Photos and Video: Press Release - Bentley Torcal - Upcoming launch
A unique user interface for future Bentley vehicles
The resulting Curation Engine demonstrates how mechanical engineering, optical design, electronics and interaction design can be brought together to turn an ambitious design concept into a compelling physical experience.
The Curation Engine was recently previewed virtually as a central element of Bentley’s EXP 15 design vision, and it now features in the Torcal, Bentley’s first all-electric production model. Here the Curation Engine forms part of a new approach to shaping the sensory experience of the vehicle. Working alongside the atmospheric door Waterfall Lighting and the wider cabin UX systems, it helps create a cohesive experience in which light, motion and interaction work together to define the atmosphere of the interior.
The Curation Engine has been successfully integrated into Bentley’s first all-electric production model, the Torcal.
