Micro LED technology, with its advantages of high brightness, high contrast, high transparency, and long lifespan, is gradually demonstrating its practical value in commercial applications. Recently, AU Optronics, together with its partners, has combined this technology with AI intelligent sensing, and has successively implemented it in fields such as smart transportation, retail, and healthcare.
Micro LED unlocks smart transportation application scenarios
According to the latest industry updates, AUO is actively introducing Micro LED technology into smart transportation scenarios at sea and on land.
In the area of maritime transportation, AU Optronics and New Energy Technology, a subsidiary of AU Optronics, collaborated to conduct application verification of Micro LED transparent display and AR technology on the "Penghu" luxury passenger and cargo ship that travels between Kaohsiung and Penghu.
The project involves installing a Micro LED transparent display module on the "Penghu" vessel, combining it with navigation information and sea area descriptions to observe its readability and operational performance in a maritime environment. The new generation Micro LED module boasts a brightness exceeding 600 nits and employs a 0.692 mm pixel pitch, enabling it to withstand strong outdoor light and high humidity at sea.
Verification of the application of 30-inch Micro LED marine porthole with virtual-real fusion (Image source: DaYun)
In terms of land transportation, in response to the large passenger flow and diverse service needs of Taichung Station, AUO's subsidiary Yuanfeng New Technology has launched three application solutions: Micro LED transparent display combined with AI smart translation, 81.5-inch ultra-low power Mini LED smart interactive display, and smart display guidance signage, to optimize the efficiency of information presentation and passenger guidance methods at busy stations.
Micro LED technology is being applied in retail and medical fields.
In addition to the transportation sector, AUO has also extended its Micro LED technology to the medical and retail sectors in its previous plans.
In the medical field, AU Optronics and Ta Yun have developed an immersive rehabilitation system for Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital in Taiwan, combining Micro LED transparent displays with 3D AI image sensing for use in elderly care and rehabilitation training. This system utilizes high-brightness, high-transmittance Micro LED technology, combined with interactive gamification design, to enhance the enthusiasm and persistence of seniors in training.
In addition, AUO has launched the "Fun Machine for Seniors" centered around a 30-inch Micro LED transparent display, transforming rehabilitation exercises into interactive games. Furthermore, a multi-user collaborative platform built with a 200-inch Mini LED video wall has been proven in real-world testing to effectively improve users' cognitive function and physical coordination, making the rehabilitation process more engaging.
Micro LED 3D Interactive Fun Machine for Children (Image source: DaYun)
In the fashion retail sector, which seeks visual impact, AUO has used the transparent display characteristics of Micro LED to redefine the way products are displayed, creating transparent runways and L-shaped display cases.
The transparent runway uses AUO's 54-inch Micro LED transparent module, with a transmittance of over 60% and a brightness of 600 nits. Combined with AI-generated fashion models, it can display high-end boutique styles 24/7.
A 54-inch Micro LED transparent screen advertising flag (Image source: DaYun)
The L-shaped display case is embedded with a 20-inch Micro LED transparent display, which can not only play 180-degree stereoscopic images of the products, but also combine with the wearing simulation function to effectively enhance the brand appeal and conversion rate of high-priced products.
A 20-inch Micro LED interactive virtual and real-world product presentation (Image source: DaYun)
Display + Sensing: Micro LED promises to unlock more application scenarios
Through the above cases, we can see AUO's strategic shift. It is no longer limited to the single role of traditional display manufacturing, but is accelerating its transformation into a high-value-added "smart scenario solutions provider," focusing on niche vertical fields such as smart retail, precision medicine, and intelligent transportation. In this process, Micro LED technology, as the core carrier, plays a crucial role.
A key advantage of Micro LED technology is its ability to simultaneously achieve high brightness, high contrast, and high transparency, solving the problem of balancing image quality and transmittance inherent in traditional transparent display technologies. According to the "2026 Global LED Display Market Outlook and Price/Cost Analysis" report, Micro LED transparent displays are suitable for applications in retail, arts and culture spaces, and the hospitality industry, serving as supplementary product display tools.
Because of the promising business prospects, in addition to AUO, other manufacturers are also accelerating their deployment in the field of Micro LED transparent displays. For example, Tianma released five new Micro LED transparent display products on November 8, including a 7.05-inch ultra-narrow bezel product designed for commercial presentations; and a 14.1-inch invisible teleprompter that allows speakers to clearly read their notes while maintaining eye contact with the audience, making it suitable for diverse scenarios such as high-end presentations and business meetings.
In addition, in the field of automotive displays, major manufacturers are actively promoting the application of Micro LED transparent screens, and Samsung, AUO, Hisense, Leyard, Tianma, Chenxian Optoelectronics, Lenovo and others have also launched corresponding products.
In these scenarios, the screen is no longer an obstruction to the line of sight, but rather a medium that provides supplementary information while preserving the transparency of the physical environment, thereby creating a brand-new experience that blends the virtual and the real.
More importantly, Micro LEDs can be highly integrated with sensors, expanding their intelligent interaction capabilities. It is also pointed out that the ability to integrate with sensors has always been a key technological advantage and commercialization indicator of Micro LEDs.
Taking Garmin's Micro LED smartwatch as an example, the watch is not only a tool for displaying time, but also a terminal carrier integrating various biosensors such as heart rate, blood oxygen, and GPS. Micro LED, with its ability to integrate with sensors, possesses unique technological advantages and can support complex data monitoring and display interaction needs.
This integration of "display + sensing" transforms the screen from a passive image output device into a smart node with environmental awareness and interactive capabilities, thus laying the hardware foundation for building more complex smart scenario applications.
Looking ahead, with the optimization of Micro LED cost structure and the increasing maturity of the AI sensing ecosystem, AUO is expected to unlock more diversified business scenarios. (Text: Mia)
