It is quite challenging to drive a car at night. Visibility is the biggest problem for your nighttime driving. If you cannot view the road and pedestrians, it will cause safety risks. To prevent potential accidents and ensure a safe journey, automotive manufacturers have introduced car night vision. It is an innovative system allowing drivers to drive the car in low-light conditions.
Know about car night vision
Originally, Cadillac introduced the night vision system in the 2000s. However, today, many new automotive manufacturers have integrated this feature into their cars. It allows you to improve your view of the highway when you drive the car in darkness.
Designed with a special technology, the night vision system works in various ways. The innovative image improvement technology integrated with the sensor uses an infrared spectrum. Its aim is to produce a brighter image from a darker picture. The technology leverages the lower part of the infrared spectrum to trap heat beams that come from subjects.
Drivers struggling to see the dark road clearly will benefit from the night vision system. The dashboard display will show the image. You may also see the image on a windshield as a projection.
Is it worth having a car with a night vision system?
If darkness on the highway makes it challenging to see everything clearly, night vision technology will be the best asset. With thermographic sensors, the system heats back at the car and identifies IR waves to determine the object’s distance. When you drive a car during heavy snowfall or rainfall, you like to know the stopping distance for safe driving. On a dimly lit road, the night vision system will display the object in front of the car. It will warn you about the potential obstacles. The advanced system can detect-
- Pedestrians
- Creatures
Other vehicles on the road
So, you will be safe from collision with any object during your nighttime ride.
The NV system fitted to your vehicle will make passengers and drivers feel more comfortable during their nighttime ride. It will save them from stressful situations, which adversely affect people’s health. NV will save your eyes from overvoltage. Moreover, you can concentrate on other things on the road.
NV systems are present not just in manned cars. Vehicles with unmanned control systems have night vision technology. Both pedestrians and drivers violate traffic rules at night. NV will develop an image of the site. It results in the automatic activation of the brake pedals, and the car will no longer move forward.
Car night vision- Choose between active and passive systems
Active night vision
It uses the source of infrared rays to project a well-lit scene. The system will highlight the path ahead of your car. We can classify the active systems in 2 ways, including gated and non-gated. The gated system involves using a synchronized camera and a pulsed light to work on long ranges. It also ensures good performance in snow and rain
The near-infrared rays, being smaller, pass through the fog particles. But, the far infrared rays have a higher wavelength.
Pros of active systems
- Superior image of inanimate objects
- Images with higher resolution
- Works efficiently in warm conditions
- Easy to mount the small sensor to the rearview mirror
Cons of active systems
- Lower contrast for creatures
- Cannot easily differentiate the lighter snow color
- Mercedes-Benz and Toyota cars have active night vision sensors.
Passive night vision
Using thermal imaging technology, the passive night vision lights up objects or people, which are close to your car. It maintains a low temperature and differentiates warm objects. The scene ahead will be illuminated, and you can clearly see the vehicles or people you drive.
Passive infrareds do not rely on a source of infrared light. But, they work by capturing thermal radiation emitted by objects.
Pros of a passive system
- Better contrast for living creatures
- Higher range (around 300 meters)
Cons of a passive system
- A low-resolution image
- A large sensor
- Warm weather affects performance
- BMW and Volkswagen cars have passion night vision sensors.
Traditional headlights in older vehicles illuminate objects within a distance of around 55 meters. But, in case of automotive night vision, the viewing range is up to 300 meters. You will have more time to view the object and manage your driving speed to avoid collision.
General Motors introduced the first-night vision system in the automotive world in 2000. After a few years, Kyocera (a Japanese electronics company) claimed to create the first night vision technology for automobiles. Its system included a laser headlight emitting near-infrared and white light.
Can you integrate an automotive night vision system into your car?
Some vehicles are integrated with the night vision sensor in the front cameras. For instance, the Night View Assist in Mercedes-Benz cars relies on the native camera for an image project onto the screen. However, almost every car with Intelligent Drive has this feature.
Night View is a feature of Lexus and Toyota cars. Furthermore, BMW and other luxury cars also have night vision technology.
But, If you do not find the feature in your existing car, buy a night vision camera from an external manufacturer. Most night vision systems are compatible with a range of vehicles. Check the price of the aftermarket products and make a purchase.
Conclusion
Most car accidents across the world happen at night. Of course, there is less traffic on the road during nighttime. But, the chance of collisions is high during nighttime. So, it is safe to run a car with a night vision. However, there is no clear data about the effectiveness of car night vision in reducing the number of accidents.
Some drivers have a habit of driving the car faster during nighttime. Without night vision technology, they may cause accidents. But, the automotive world has introduced other technologies for better nighttime visibility. The combination of various technologies will improve safety.
