Options for night drivers from BMW
Heat sensing and auto-dip available soon
BMW 654Ci - new night safety kit soon
Night Vision
Akin to the technology to be see on the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz S Class (see story link below), Night Vision uses a thermal imaging camera to illuminate pedestrians, animals or any objects emitting heat up to 300 metres ahead of the car. Infra-red technology generates a clear image of the road ahead on the iDrive screen and the system is particularly effective on long stretches of unlit road or motorway. Bi-xenon headlamps already illuminate the road 150 metres ahead, but Night Vision offers the driver a significantly longer range of vision. The result? All round better awareness of the road ahead and safer driving, said BMW.
High-Beam Assistant is a system that automatically sets Bi-xenon headlights to the optimum range and brightness, depending on other traffic. A sensor at the front of the car detects oncoming exterior light sources, allowing the car to automatically switch between high and low beam for the best level of illumination. For example, the car’s headlights will automatically dip when it detects street lamps (on entering built-up areas) or even an oncoming cyclist, then return to full beam when no light source is detectable.
Both innovations have been introduced following widespread research showing the inherent dangers posed by poorly lit roads or busy highways, according to BMW. The company said that German road safety research has shown that about half of serious accidents are caused because the driver had insufficient information about the road ahead to take avoiding action. It also showed that, while 75 per cent of all driving is done during daylight hours, more than 50 per cent of all fatal accidents happen during the hours of darkness. Similar accident figures have been found in US studies.
How does it work?
When looking at developing BMW’s Night Vision system, engineers considered two types of imaging cameras on the market - Near Infrared (NIR) and Far Infrared (FIR). NIR uses a source of infrared light and an infrared camera mounted on the front of the car. Any infrared light reflected from objects is collected by the camera and then processed into an on-screen image. FIR on the other hand uses a thermal imaging camera to directly register heat radiated from objects.
After a process of evaluation, BMW reckoned that FIR was superior. With no need for another light source to be projected from the car, fewer components are needed. This ought to mean the system is more reliable and that it's less vulnerable to front end bumps. FIR also had a greater area of coverage and, unlike NIR, couldn’t be confused by the lights of oncoming vehicles, traffic lights or road signs with their strong reflective qualities, said the Munich company.
You'll be able to switch it on using a button alongside the headlight switch. An option in the iDrive menu allows the driver to select brightness and contrast while choosing between a full screen or split screen display.
High-Beam Assistant
High-Beam Assistant was developed after research showed that high beam headlights could, and arguably should, be used in approximately 75 per cent more occasions than they currently are. Further studies highlighted that drivers who do switch to high beam often fail to deactivate it in time and, consequently, dazzle other road users. The solution is High-Beam Assistant, a system that uses a light-seeking camera located in the rear view mirror housing to monitor the road for up to 1,000 metres ahead.
To activate High-Beam Assistant, the driver turns the headlight switch to automatic and leaves the high beam/low beam headlight stalk pushed forward to high. A check control light in the instrument binnacle tells the driver High-Beam Assistant is operational.
Pricing for the High-Beam Assistant on the BMW 5, 6 and 7 Series have been confirmed at £95.00 but the cost for Night Vision, due to be launched in late 2005, is yet to be confirmed.
only has a 100m range though
www.pakatak.com/infrared-spy-camera.htm
i dont understand?
surely your still supposed to drive by looking through the windscreen rather than (like the new S merc) at the big display where the dials should be?
surely its just a gimmick?
unless it is an overlayed HUD? (that would be major impressive!) but that would only be effective by having a little monicle surely?
What would be really innovative is to blind those morrons driving with their high beams on such that the xenons turn to laser and get pointed to their mirrors or eyes
Actually it would be nice if BM would help some owners upgrade their cars to iDrive and these goodies... Then, i would be really impressed.
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