Do You See What I See?

This article describes the Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) company's new low-light vision detection system currently being installed as an option on a number of their vehicle lines. The necessity for improved safety in low-light conditions as nighttime is manifest in accident statistics: in Germany 50 percent of accidents occur at night when only 25 percent of driving occurs during those times. In the U.S., these numbers are 55 and 28, respectively. In addition to other nighttime vision enhancement such as Adaptive Headlights and Xenon bulb headlights, the new Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) based BMW Night Vision system is aimed to primarily detect living objects such as humans and animals, as the infrared (IR) sensor is sensitive to radiating heat as is produced in greater quantities by live masses rather than background features such as pavement, vegetation, or hardscape. The FLIR camera is installed on the front bumped of the vehicle and the display is mounted in the center console, which is visible enough in a driver's peripheral vision to alert the driver of impending living obstructions on the roadway.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/32663949
• Authors:
  • Maras, Christiaan
• Publication Date: 2008-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 102-104
• Serial:
  • Traffic Technology International
  • Publisher: AutoIntermediates Limited
  • ISSN: 1356-9252
  • Serial URL: http://www.ukipme.com/mag_traffic.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer vision; Driver vehicle interfaces; Night vision devices; Traffic safety; Vehicle safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01100563
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 3 2008 7:30AM