Automotive night vision
An automotive night vision system uses a thermographic camera to increase a driver's perception and seeing distance in darkness or poor weather beyond the reach of the vehicle's headlights. Such systems are offered as optional equipment on certain premium vehicles. The technology was first introduced in the year 2000 on the Cadillac Deville. This technology is based on the night vision devices, which generally denotes any electronically enhanced optical devices operate in three modes: image enhancement, thermal imaging, and active illumination. The automotive night vision system is a combination of NVDs such as infrared cameras, GPS, Lidar, and Radar, among others to sense and detect objects.
Display type
- Instrument cluster using a high resolution liquid-crystal display, newest type
- navigation system or information screen, least expensive and with display's location further away from driver's field of vision
- windshield via head-up display, earliest type, dimmer knob can reduce brightness, display nearest to driver's line of sight
Active systems
use an infrared light source built into the car to illuminate the road ahead with light that is invisible to humans. There are two kinds of active systems: gated and non-gated. The gated system uses a pulsed light source and a synchronized camera that enable long ranges and high performance in rain and snow.Near Infrared wavelength is 0.75–1.4 µm is smaller and can pass between the typical fog particles. Fog particles sizes are typically 10 to 15 microns and ranges is sizes from 1 to 100 microns. Far infrared has a wavelength of 15 micrometers to 1 mm. During night-time operations, police officers with range gated near infrared cameras can read license plates at a distance of up to 1.2 km. Near Infrared cameras are available to see 50 km through fog, haze, smoke, rain.
- 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
Series production Night View Assist system introduced in 2005 on the redesigned Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It was the first system to use the instrument cluster's LCD as a display.
2009: Night View Assist Plus added a pedestrian detection function calling the revised system on the redesigned Mercedes-Benz E-Class and refreshed S-class, however, the E-class uses the navigation screen's display.
2011: Night View Assist Plus with Spotlight Function premiere: the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class became the first series production car with night vision-guided pedestrian spotlighting can flash at any pedestrians it detects in order to warn both the driver and the pedestrians. The flashing light is directed in such a way that vehicles in front and oncoming traffic are not dazzled.
2013: Night View Assist Plus with animal detection on the W222 S-Class.
Toyota
In 2002 Toyota Night View was the first worldwide series production active automotive night vision system, introduced optionally on the Toyota Landcruiser Cygnus or Lexus LX470. This system first uses the near infrared light projectors placed next to the fog lights emitting near infrared light aimed like the car's high beam headlights. Then, a CCD camera behind the rear view mirror captures that reflected infrared light, and then this signal is processed by the computer which produces a monochromatic image which is projected right above the gauge cluster onto the windshield.In February 2008 the Toyota Crown Hybrid added a feature 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.
In 2009, Lexus introduced Night View on the LS, but only in Japan.
In 2012 Lexus introduced Night View worldwide, on LS and GS. The Night View system combines a windshield mounted near infra-red camera and near infra-red projectors within the headlamps with a Night View ECU to display an image of the
road ahead on center console display screen. Moving the image from the driver’s instrument display to the center console offers drivers a larger display and an easier viewing angle. With the camera constantly in operation and the near infra-red projectors activating at speeds over 10 MPH to enhance system efficiency, night view will display an area up to 65 feet in front of the vehicle. This system was discontinued for 2014 in the US.
Passive systems
systems do not use an infrared light source, instead they capture thermal radiation already emitted by the objects, using a thermographic camera.- Pros: greater range of about 300 meters or 1,000 feet, higher contrast for living objects
- Cons: grainy, lower resolution image, works poorly in warmer weather conditions, larger sensor
Audi
2013 update added animal detection. and Pedestrian Marker Lights: As soon as a pedestrian is detected by the Night Vision Assistant in a critical range in front of the vehicle, individual Matrix LEDs flash briefly 3 times in succession to alert that person, who is then clearly visible to the driver.
BMW
BMW Night Vision introduced in 2005 on the BMW 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.2008 update added pedestrian detection system on the redesigned BMW 7 Series, which flashes a caution symbol on the navigation/information screen and automotive head-up display when it detects pedestrians.
2013 update added Dynamic Light Spot.
2013 update added animal detection. The system provides a real-time video image that also depicts on the Control Display persons, animals and other objects emitting heat when they are outside of the light beam and warns in the event of an impending collision. The Dynamic Light Spot is produced by a special headlight that directs the light beam onto the recognised persons or animals respectively, thus drawing the driver’s attention to possible hazards in good time. As soon as the remote infrared detects pedestrians or larger animals on course for collision in the dark, the system directs two separately controlled Dynamic Light Spots at them without creating an unpleasant glare. In the event of an acute risk, an acoustic warning signal is also sounded and the brakes are set to maximum standby. For the model year 2014, the BMW 5 Series will also have these new features.