By alerting drivers to otherwise invisible hazards, automotive night vision can help prevent accidents.
What Is Automotive Night Vision for Cars?
Uses thermographic cameras to detect thermal radiation.
Great for revealing vehicles, animals, people, and other “thermal” objects.
Uses infrared light to illuminate darkness.
Reveals objects that are much farther away than headlights can see.
There are two categories of automotive night vision: passive and active.
Passive systems use thermal cameras that illuminate the heat radiating off objects, animals, and people.
Active systems use infrared light sources to illuminate darkness.
They each have their own benefits and drawbacks.
Passive Night Vision Pros and Cons
Good at revealing people, animals, and other vehicles.
Higher visible range than active night vision.
Not very good at revealing inanimate objects like rocks or barriers.
Less effective in warm weather.
Passive night vision systems rely on thermographic cameras to detect thermal radiation.
The range of passive night vision tends to be higher than the range of active night vision.
This is due to the limited power of the light sources used by active systems.
However, the image quality produced by the thermographic cameras tends to be poor when compared to active systems.
Active Night Vision Pros and Cons
Image quality generally better than passive night vision.
Can illuminate objects that are farther away than headlights can reach.
Does not work well in poor weather conditions, like snow and hail.
Active systems are more complex than passive systems because they use infrared light sources.
This allows the infrared lights to illuminate objects that are much farther away than headlights are able to reach.
Some systems use pulsed infrared lights, and others use a constant light source.
However, active systems can provide high contrast images of vehicles, animals, and even inanimate objects.
How Does Infrared or Thermographic Information Help You See?
There are different ways for night vision displays to relay infrared or thermographic information to the driver.
Other systems use an LCD mounted on the dash, instrument cluster, or head unit.
Which Vehicles Have Night Vision Systems?
Automotive night vision systems have been around since 1988, but they are still found primarily in luxury vehicles.
The technology is usually optional and can be quite expensive.
Mercedes, Toyota, and Toyotas Lexus badge all offer active systems.
Other automakers, including Audi, BMW, and Honda, offer passive options.
There are also a number of aftermarket systems available.
Final Verdict: Does Night Vision Help Reduce Accidents?
According to theEuropean Commission for the Automobile Industry, nearly 50 percent of all accidents occur at night.
However, other technologies that increase nighttime visibility have been shown to reduce accidents.
