Rear facing camera(s) rather than rear view mirrors
Discussion
robinessex said:
Other than it's a legal requirement, why can't rear view mirrors be dumped, and replaced by rear view camera(s)? ALL rear view mirrors have a blind spot somewhere, cause drag, look awful, cost money, and get knocked hit sooner or later. So why not replace with camera(s) then?
Well I suppose it's pretty hard to get digital camera sensors to deal with a large range of light levels properly; especially sudden changes in light intensity. Cameras are an option, but I don't think the tech is there yet.
Partly in camera quality, but mostly in display terms. I don't think they are clear enough, or likely to be able to handle the vast temp ranges, water and all the other gubbins that a car has to deal with.
They also won't work when the ignition is off. And mirrors are used for parking, so seeing down the side of the car as well as what is behind.
Plus it's quick and easy to adjust a mirror. If it's a camera you may still need to adjust the screen.
Or put it this way, would you happily pay £2-3k more for a car just to have camera's instead of mirrors?
Partly in camera quality, but mostly in display terms. I don't think they are clear enough, or likely to be able to handle the vast temp ranges, water and all the other gubbins that a car has to deal with.
They also won't work when the ignition is off. And mirrors are used for parking, so seeing down the side of the car as well as what is behind.
Plus it's quick and easy to adjust a mirror. If it's a camera you may still need to adjust the screen.
Or put it this way, would you happily pay £2-3k more for a car just to have camera's instead of mirrors?
300bhp/ton said:
Cameras are an option, but I don't think the tech is there yet.
Partly in camera quality, but mostly in display terms. I don't think they are clear enough, or likely to be able to handle the vast temp ranges, water and all the other gubbins that a car has to deal with.
They also won't work when the ignition is off. And mirrors are used for parking, so seeing down the side of the car as well as what is behind.
Plus it's quick and easy to adjust a mirror. If it's a camera you may still need to adjust the screen.
Or put it this way, would you happily pay £2-3k more for a car just to have camera's instead of mirrors?
Doesn't a Range Rover have about 9 cameras already. Select the one you need as approriate. Quality, HD should be ok. Housed internaly, weather no problem. Don't need them when the ignition is off. In car cams avaliable for less than £50.Partly in camera quality, but mostly in display terms. I don't think they are clear enough, or likely to be able to handle the vast temp ranges, water and all the other gubbins that a car has to deal with.
They also won't work when the ignition is off. And mirrors are used for parking, so seeing down the side of the car as well as what is behind.
Plus it's quick and easy to adjust a mirror. If it's a camera you may still need to adjust the screen.
Or put it this way, would you happily pay £2-3k more for a car just to have camera's instead of mirrors?
300bhp/ton said:
kambites said:
If it's ever legalised, I think it'll start on supercars for aerodynamic reasons then filter down as the technology improves and the price falls.
I wonder where you'd actually put the display, if it's outside then you'd not gain in aero. Maybe some kind of HUD?The whole thing would be a bit pointless if you put the screens outside the car.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 7th March 14:15
andy-xr said:
It'd look really daft with 2 ipad sized screens stuck on the side of my car, I'll just stick with small bits of glass
These cameras can be incredibly small, no need to fix them externaly at all. Could be built in the rear of the car, with 180 degree panoramic lense for complete rear coverage. Display is LCD unit built into dash.I think it's complication for complications sake!
A mirror is a simple and elegant solution.
When the electronic dip-stick was invented one Audi Tech said "the most reliable thing Audi ever had (the manual dip stick) and they went to this abortion"
When keyless entry was invented. "Where do you put your key now couldn't they have a little holder (like they do in hotel rooms) so you always know where it is and you can't leave without turning the thing off"
Bah a philistine me.
A mirror is a simple and elegant solution.
When the electronic dip-stick was invented one Audi Tech said "the most reliable thing Audi ever had (the manual dip stick) and they went to this abortion"
When keyless entry was invented. "Where do you put your key now couldn't they have a little holder (like they do in hotel rooms) so you always know where it is and you can't leave without turning the thing off"
Bah a philistine me.
DocArbathnot said:
When keyless entry was invented. "Where do you put your key now couldn't they have a little holder (like they do in hotel rooms) so you always know where it is and you can't leave without turning the thing off"
My Mondeo has a removable blanking plate where the ignition barrel would normally be, hiding a key receptacle which is supposed to be used if the key battery is flat. I just use it to keep the key in when I'm in the car...robinessex said:
These cameras can be incredibly small, no need to fix them externaly at all. Could be built in the rear of the car, with 180 degree panoramic lense for complete rear coverage. Display is LCD unit built into dash.
You think it'd be good to be looking down at the dash away from the road???And again, how would this help when wanting to look down the side of a vehicle and maybe at your rear wheel?
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