http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/ Engadget Comments for BMW goes night vision on us http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
Second, the system only highlights items that are radiating heat. The coke can, Twinkey wrapper or other similar item isn't going to show up. A car (hot engine and exhaust), animal (deer) or person is going to show up as a bright white object. It is pretty safe to assume that MOST objects that propel themselves onto the middle of a high speed roadway are going to be giving off heat to get there which is why the system has a pretty good chance of being effective.

Finally, the fact that the display is offset from the primary vision area is fine- pilots in fighter aircraft have had to look down for targeting information (radar displays, camera monitors and similar IR monitors) since the 50s and 60s. Those aircraft displays often have FAR more intricate information contained on them and the pilots are flying in a much more complex and dynamic environment. It has worked well for them I cannot see how a relatively simple display wouldn't work out ok in a civilian vehicle.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/What about that big hunk of tire from that 18 wheeler coming up at 80mph? It better detect that too! I agree with the body heat thing, but objects without heat pose just as much threat, and can come out of no wheres fast. I mean I guess you can't make the system Full proof.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
if the tire blew out, it's probably going to be warm anyway... if I'm not mistaken.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
But also think about trees falling down in a storm. Limited visibility, and what, this big black chunk comes crashing down in your night vision, not visible because it’s not warm? Shouldn't it warn me of that as well?

All I’m saying is it's a nice step in the right direction, but it's not the end all to preventing night accidents and such.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
Comment: Some of you have commented on not being able to see obstacles that aren't producing heat. While it is true that these objects(trees, bits of tire, etc.) don't generate a lot of heat, they are usually a different temperature than their surroundings, the cameras are extremely sensitive to the difference in temperatures between objects so while a tree might not show up as a glaring white blob it would be distinguishable from the background. Even when objects are the same temperature they are still distinguishable, simialar to a person wearing yellow clothes would still be visible against a wall painted yellow, just not AS visible.

As for the system being a distraction from driving, it is not meant to be used continuously. It is meant to be used to augment visual information the driver is already gathering. Unlike looking down at the radio to change stations, when the driver looks down he is seeing real time information from the scene in front of the car. While there is a short discontinuity between when the driver glances down and when the driver starts processing the image on the screen, it is short enough to be hardly noticable. And unlike a cell phone you aren't trying to concentrate on two different tasks at once, its all driving the car.

While I've never gotten the chance to drive the test bed car that we have here, I've heard from those that have that it is a very natural feeling set up. In situations where head lights are doing the job they said they glanced down very rarely, but as the conditions got worse they would depend more and more on the display but would never stop looking at the road directly.

FYI: One of the other advantages to the system is that it can see through fog quite effectively.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
It's also a wonder how theykept it under wraps, which just goes to show that cars can still surprise if they have to.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/tech/its/program/function/nightviewer.html

http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/safety_presen/tech/40.html

Way more ahead, aren't they ?]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
With a passive thermal system you don't have to illuminate anything, everything is generating its own thermal signature.

The technology that BMW has invested in is the next generation after the Toyota technology. Plus BMW is making the push to drive costs on these systems down so that they will be available across a much broader range of cars. Right now the Toyota technology is prohibitively expensive.

To my knowledge Toyota does not offer their system on production models. BMW however is offering it up as a standard option on there 7 series in Q4 of 2005.

And thats how BMW doing about it.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
Toyota has been offering their system on their luxury sedans and SUVs since December 1993.

Anyway, I think the "head-up" type display of Toyota is much more practical and safe, especially under those driving conditions that you really need those.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
Toyota has been offering their system on their luxury sedans and SUVs since December 1993.

Anyway, I think the "head-up" type display of Toyota is much more practical and safe, especially under those driving conditions that you really need those.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
It was December 2003, Toyota started offering their system as a factory install option.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/
it's honda, from dec., 2004.

http://world.honda.com/hdtv/intelligentnightvision/200408/

http://www.autoblog.com/entry/0128258614746782/]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/bmw-goes-night-vision-on-us/http://www.nationalinfrared.com
go to the image gallery and there are some great images of people, cars and the environment around us. You will see that you can clearly see everything from rocks and trees to people and twinkie wrappers. For more information on how infrared technology works check out this blog
http://infraredcamera.blogspot.com/]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM