Vans are likely to be next to get 360° vision
With state-of-the-art 360° vision already proving its worth in trucks and cars, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says it’s likely to be vans up next.
Already popular in car safety and driver assistance systems, as well as in the HGV market, 360° cameras now look set to take off in the rapidly growing LCV market.
What’s driving the trend?
With a record four million vans now on our roads and increasing calls for operators to be fully accountable for fleets, especially in the burgeoning home delivery sector, on-board imaging could soon be seen as essential for both road safety and fleet monitoring purposes.
360° vision – reverse sensors on steroids…
Pretty much! The on-board imaging market has advanced rapidly from reversing sensors, through to reversing cameras, with the introduction of dash-mounted screens along the way. And that’s just at the rear of the vehicle.
Vehicle-mounted cameras have multiplied and are now found not just at the front, but also at the sides of cars to allow all-round, or 360° vision.
But 360° vision is mainly on passenger cars, right?
This type of technology is typically still optional on the majority of passenger cars, but the market is moving quickly and manufacturers don’t want to be left behind. The shift extends to those producing commercial vehicles – so to many people, it seems the question is not so much whether all-round camera technology will hit the commercial vehicle market – but rather when it will start.
What’s the current state of play?
Currently, reversing cameras are still only optional for many vans and LCVs, but in the medium term they could feasibly become standard (or even mandatory) kit. It stands to reason, then, that giving drivers complete, 360° vision of the vehicle is only a matter of time.
Those questioning the logic (and, now doubt the cost,) might like to consider the benefits. First,there’s the obvious safety advantage – multiple cameras on vehicles have helped to reduce/avoid accidents when parking or manoeuvring in passenger cars, and the same is expected in commercial vehicles.
Their use protects not only the driver and his vehicle, but also other road users and pedestrians – the evolution of blind spot systems and reversing cameras have proven this fact. Given that vans and LCVs have more blind spots, 360° cameras are likely to be of even greater benefit to this class than passenger cars, especially as manufacturers work to improve night, glare and poor weather vision, which are currently the main criticisms of the systems.
Then there are the wider operational benefits that 360° cameras can bring. Reducing accidents means reduced risk of insurance claims – and therefore a possible cost-saving through lower premiums – and the vehicle downtime while repairs are made after an accident.
When weighing up the pros and cons of picking camera technology from a vehicle’s options list, these considerations can be key and ultimately cameras can pay for themselves over the lifetime of the vehicle. An all-round bargain some might say (if you’ll pardon the pun…)
Already popular in car safety and driver assistance systems, as well as in the HGV market, 360° cameras now look set to take off in the rapidly growing LCV market.
What’s driving the trend?
With a record four million vans now on our roads and increasing calls for operators to be fully accountable for fleets, especially in the burgeoning home delivery sector, on-board imaging could soon be seen as essential for both road safety and fleet monitoring purposes.
360° vision – reverse sensors on steroids…
Pretty much! The on-board imaging market has advanced rapidly from reversing sensors, through to reversing cameras, with the introduction of dash-mounted screens along the way. And that’s just at the rear of the vehicle.
Vehicle-mounted cameras have multiplied and are now found not just at the front, but also at the sides of cars to allow all-round, or 360° vision.
But 360° vision is mainly on passenger cars, right?
This type of technology is typically still optional on the majority of passenger cars, but the market is moving quickly and manufacturers don’t want to be left behind. The shift extends to those producing commercial vehicles – so to many people, it seems the question is not so much whether all-round camera technology will hit the commercial vehicle market – but rather when it will start.
What’s the current state of play?
Currently, reversing cameras are still only optional for many vans and LCVs, but in the medium term they could feasibly become standard (or even mandatory) kit. It stands to reason, then, that giving drivers complete, 360° vision of the vehicle is only a matter of time.
Those questioning the logic (and, now doubt the cost,) might like to consider the benefits. First,there’s the obvious safety advantage – multiple cameras on vehicles have helped to reduce/avoid accidents when parking or manoeuvring in passenger cars, and the same is expected in commercial vehicles.
Their use protects not only the driver and his vehicle, but also other road users and pedestrians – the evolution of blind spot systems and reversing cameras have proven this fact. Given that vans and LCVs have more blind spots, 360° cameras are likely to be of even greater benefit to this class than passenger cars, especially as manufacturers work to improve night, glare and poor weather vision, which are currently the main criticisms of the systems.
Then there are the wider operational benefits that 360° cameras can bring. Reducing accidents means reduced risk of insurance claims – and therefore a possible cost-saving through lower premiums – and the vehicle downtime while repairs are made after an accident.
When weighing up the pros and cons of picking camera technology from a vehicle’s options list, these considerations can be key and ultimately cameras can pay for themselves over the lifetime of the vehicle. An all-round bargain some might say (if you’ll pardon the pun…)
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