How 360 ° cameras work in the car

Once the parking lot was all analog, now there are 360 ​​° cameras. Before you turned around, you took advantage of the indications of a passenger who got off before the maneuver or the gestures of some kind passer-by (in some cases an abusive valet). In short, there were not all the digital aids and automations of today, which turn out to be more and more useful with the passage of time.

The systems to help the driver during parking maneuvers are increasingly sophisticated: after the sensors came the rear view camera and today 360 degree vision systems are becoming more and more popular. In addition to exploiting the essential ultrasonic sensors, front and rear, the technology adds four wide-angle cameras positioned at the ends of the car: one on the front grille, one on the rear and two under the rear-view mirrors. In this way, the system has four different views available which, appropriately combined with each other thanks to the processing of the electronic control unit, offer a 360-degree overview of the surrounding environment.

There is also 3D. Generally the car is represented in plan view from above, but the most recent and advanced infotainment systems display the three-dimensional reproduction of the car inserted in the “live” images of the surrounding environment: a sort of augmented reality to better understand where and how you can move during the maneuver. The function of the 360-degree cameras, in fact, is to make the margins of movement of the car and the positioning of obstacles understood as clearly as possible. In addition to offering the global view, almost all systems can show images from individual cameras, to assist the driver even better. Some solutions also monitor pavements, issuing a warning that avoids contact with the rims and tires.

By now we have got used to the convenience of the rear view camera: the digital eye which, once reverse gear is engaged, shows us on the central infotainment display what is behind the bumper of our car, in many cases superimposing on the image as well of the guidelines to better indicate direction.

The voice of the valet has become that of the ultrasonic sensors, which warn us, with increasing intensity, of the presence of ever closer obstacles. The 360-degree camera represents the latest hi-tech step.

360 ° CAMERA IN THE CAR

In fact, parking has become easier, especially on those cars where rear visibility is rather poor. Year after year, however, the single rear view camera (integrated in the logos or in the tailgate handle) has become an object that no longer represents the sum of parking aids.

The latest evolution is represented by 360 ° vision systems. In addition to exploiting the essential ultrasonic sensors, front and rear, the technology uses four wide-angle cameras positioned at the ends of the car.one on the front grille, one on the rear and two under the rear-view mirrors.

In this way, the system has four different views available which, processed by the electronic control unit, make up a fifth, in which the car is depicted from above (according to a bird’s eye perspective), offering a 360 degrees of the surrounding environment (like in a video game).

AN EXCELLENT ALLY FOR PARKING AND MANEUVERING

The most recent and advanced infotainment systems show the three-dimensional reproduction of the car inserted in the “live” images of the road: a sort of augmented reality to better understand where and how one can move while maneuvering.

The function of the 360-degree cameras, in fact, is to make the car’s movement margins and the positioning of obstacles understood as clearly as possible, simplifying our life and perhaps saving us some scratches.

These are live images, often offered in combination with parking assistance, rear cross traffic control or automatic emergency braking.

360-DEGREE CUSTOMIZATION OF CAMERAS

In addition to offering the global view, almost all 360 ° systems can show the images of individual cameras, to assist the driver even better.

You can choose to view the image that is most convenient by pressing a key or by touching an icon on the central display. Some solutions also monitor pavements, issuing a warning that avoids contact with rims and tires.