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An automotive night vision system is a system to increase a vehicle driver's perception and seeing distance in darkness or poor weather beyond the reach of the vehicle's headlights. They are currently offered as optional equipment on certain premium vehicles.
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Display type
- instrument cluster using a high resolution liquid-crystal display (LCD), newest type
- navigation system or information screen, least expensive and least useful due to display's location further away from driver's field of vision (used exclusively by BMW, and the W212 E-class)
- windshield via head-up display, earliest type, dimmer knob can reduce brightness, display nearest to driver's line of sight
There are two types of systems, either passive or active systems, both have advantages and disadvantages when compared to the other.[1][2][3].
Active systems
Active systems use an infrared light source built into the car to illuminate the road ahead with light that is invisible to humans.
- Pros: higher resolution image, superior picture of inanimate objects, works better in warmer conditions, smaller sensor can be mounted to rearview mirror.
- Cons: does not work as well in fog or rain, lower contrast for animals, shorter range of 150-200 meters or 500-650 feet
Mercedes-Benz
In late-2005, Mercedes-Benz introduced their Night View Assist system on the redesigned S-class. It was the first system to use the instrument cluster's LCD as a display. In 2009, Mercedes added a pedestrian detection function calling the revised system Night View Assist Plus and offered it on the redesigned E-class and refreshed S-class, however the E-class uses the navigation screen's display.
Toyota
In 2002, Toyota introduced the first production automotive active night vision system or Night View on the Lexus LX 470 and Landcruiser Cygnus. This system uses the headlight projectors emitting near infrared light aimed like the car's highbeam headlights and a CCD camera then captures that reflected radiation, this signal is then processed by computer which produces a black-and-white image which is projected on the lower section of the windshield.[4][5] In 2008 Toyota added a feature to the Crown Hybrid which highlights pedestrians and presents them in a box on an LCD display in front of the driver, this was the first pedestrian detection feature for an active system.[6]
Passive systems
Passive systems do not use an infrared light source, but they thermal radiation emitted by the objects which is then captured by a thermographic camera.
- Pros: greater range of about 300 meters or 1,000 feet, higher contrast for living objects[1]
- Cons: grainy, lower resolution image, works poorly in warmer weather conditions, larger sensor
Audi
The Night Vision Assistant will be introduced in 2010 on the Audi A8. It uses a thermal imaging camera behind the four rings at the front of the car which can "see" 300 meters (984 ft) ahead. The display in the instrument cluster highlights humans with yellow markings. More importantly, the computer can determine if the person on the road moves in a way that could lead to a collision with the car. In that case the pedestrian is being marked in red color and the driver of the car receives an audible warning.
BMW
In fall 2005, BMW introduced BMW Night Vision on the 7-series. This system processes far infrared radiation, which minimizes non-essential information placing a greater emphasis on pedestrians and animals, allows for a range of 300 meters or nearly 1,000 feet, and avoids "dazzle" from headlights, road lights and similar intense light sources.[7] In the fall of 2008, on the redesigned 7-series, BMW added a pedestrian detection system which flashes a caution symbol on the display. BMW uses the navigation/information screen as the display.[8]
General Motors
In 2000, General Motors introduced Night Vision on the Cadillac Deville which became the first vehicle sold with such a system, however it was discontinued in 2004.[9] This system was developed with Raytheon, and worked by using an infrared sensor mounted behind the vehicle's grille. Infrared radiation is picked up by the sensor, processed by computer and then displayed on the windshield using a head-up display. Warmer objects appear whiter, while cooler objects appear blacker.[10][11][12]
Honda
In the fall of 2004, Honda introduced the redesigned Legend with an optional Intelligent Night Vision system. This system detected far infrared radiation and was also the first system to offer pedestrian detection. The pedestrian detection feature alerted the driver with an audio warning and visually enclosed the pedestrian in a box on the display which was presented via head-up display.[13][14]
Automobiles
Active
- 2002-2007 Lexus LX 470 (windshield)
- 2009 Lexus LS (instrument cluster)1
- 2006 Mercedes CL-class (instrument cluster)
- 2009 Mercedes E-class (navigation screen)1
- 2005 Mercedes S-class (instrument cluster)
- 2009 Mercedes S-class (instrument cluster)1
- 2008 Toyota Crown Hybrid (instrument cluster)1
- 2002 Toyota Landcruiser Cignus (windshield)
Passive
- 2011 Audi A8 (instrument cluster)1
- 2005 BMW 5-series (navigation screen)
- 2005 BMW 7-series (navigation screen)
- 2008 BMW 7-series (navigation screen)1
- 2000-2004 Cadillac (windshield)
- 2004 Honda Legend (windshield)1
- 1 includes pedestrian detection
See also
- Night Vision
- Active Night Vision
- Infrared radiation
- Thermographic camera
- CCD camera
- Headlamp
- Adaptive headlamp
- Automatic highbeam headlamp
- Pedestrian
- Pedestrian detection
- Intelligent Car
References
- ^ a b http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/mar06/3043
- ^ http://www.i-car.com/html_pages/technical_information/advantage/advantage_online_archives/2006/051506.shtml
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/31/automobiles/31CARS.html?_r=1
- ^ http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Followup/articleId=77844
- ^ http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/safety_presen/tech/40.html
- ^ http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05/31/toyota-introduces-night-view-on-japanese-crown-hybrid/
- ^ http://www.worldcarfans.com/2060130.001/bmw-night-vision-available-in-the-5-and-6-series-as-of-march
- ^ http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/06/05/improved-night-vision-for-next-2009-bmw-7-series/
- ^ http://www.autoblog.com/2004/11/17/cadillac-kills-passive-night-vision-system/
- ^ http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=44088/pageNumber=3
- ^ www.vxm.com/Impact.cadillac.nitevision.html
- ^ http://media.gm.com/ca/gm/en/news/releases/archived%20releases/8f8b67f39a2b5d948525696d00711289.htm
- ^ http://world.honda.com/news/2004/4040824_01.html
- ^ http://world.honda.com/HDTV/IntelligentNightVision/200408/
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