Rainer Oßwald, Johannes Burghardt (Electric/Electronic Testing) and Gerhard Unseld (Infotainment sub-project leader) gave great dedication to integrating the new infotainment system, the “Coach Infotainment series”, in the vehicle. And it’s something both drivers and passengers can benefit from. In comparison to cars or lorries, the infotainment systems of buses and coaches require additional functions in the passenger compartment.

What’s more, the dimensions of a coach, particularly its length, are a particular challenge for the transmission of large quantities of data: for example, video playback. The complexity of development and the effort required – here, working together with the system supplier Bosch – are impressive.

But this effort quite clearly bore fruit, as evidenced, say, by the concept of the driver’s controls. Unlike in a lorry, the driver is not only responsible for driving safely and accessing information via telephone, radio and the navigation system: they also need to look after passengers and their needs. The result, in the Coach Infotainment series: touch operation on the monitor, extended voice control, steering wheel buttons and an additional control panel with buttons and knobs to handle basic functions.

“It was one of our first decisions – adding an additional control panel with rotary knobs as standard in the TopClass and ComfortClass,” explains Johannes Burghardt. The optional internal intercom, connecting to the driver’s rest area, for example, is also integrated in the cockpit via a folding microphone/loudspeaker arm.

“Together with colleagues from Interior & Design, we integrated it all into the existing cockpit with as few alterations as possible,” Rainer Oßwald notes, looking over the screen and control panel. The driver has a seven-inch monitor to look at. Thanks to the touchscreen, all the functions are literally at their fingertips.

Using steering wheel buttons or voice control – which, Johannes Burghardt says, “is now yet more versatile thanks to pre-defined phrases” – the driver can control the cockpit systems: telephone, navigation and the audio equipment. Mobile phones can be connected via Bluetooth – “it's so easy,” promises Rainer Oßwald. The telephone is kept on the left-hand side in a storage tray where it can be charged at high speed via a USB cable. “It’s full before you know it,” Oßwald adds.

The new navigation system is based on a standardised map data format also used in other systems. In coach-specific route calculations, the vehicle height, length and width, alongside total tonnage and axle loads, are considered. If added as an option, Premium Traffic allows online reports of current traffic situations to be incorporated in the calculation. The details show the developers’ deep knowledge of the practical side of driving: in private and assistance mode, navigation instructions can be switched discreetly to the microphone/loudspeaker arm by the driver’s seat.

In case of emergencies, all OMNIplus Service Points are labelled as Points of Interest and can be directly viewed via a Bluetooth-connected smartphone. What’s more, costly map updates are now a thing of the past – they’re completely free in the new system. Simply download them from a PC in the office to a USB stick and transfer them to the coach system. Another clever feature is the central “MIC” button: using it, the driver can mute all other channels in order to make important announcements.

The driver provides audio entertainment on board by coupling in a smartphone or inserting a USB stick. With “bring your own device”, passengers can also play their own audio. In this case, the smartphone in question is simply connected via Bluetooth – and the passenger DJ can hit the decks.

On top of this, the HDMI interface installed with the monitors allows the universal connection of a wide range of playback devices – say, the tour guide’s notebook if they want to give a presentation or show a video. It will show on full HD monitors with a lavish 21.5-inch screen. “The high resolution of the monitors catches the eye immediately – it’s just great!” Rainer Oßwald enthuses.