ABI: Night Vision Alternatives Can Influence Vehicle Sales

October 30, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

According to ABI Research, the ability to detect animals in their habitats along the roadside is one instance cited by truckers who drive through less-populated areas of Canada.

"One of the features of passive (or far-infrared) cameras is that they detect heat rather than light, and a lesser-known aspect is that they can have some value during the day, as well as at night," said ABI Research principal analyst David Alexander.

"Early warning of an animal hiding in the undergrowth, or a child hidden behind a parked car, is something that people may consider worth having."

Heat-sensitive cameras can also help detect warm-bodied objects in poor-visibility situations, such as fog or snow.

Analysts said this extra warning capability might sway a buyer who lives in a remote location or in an area that regularly sees bad weather. Image quality tends to make it hard for people to identify details, but the presence of a potential danger is easy to spot.

"The latest active, or near-infrared sensitive cameras offer some help in bad weather, and they have the advantage of delivering a much clearer image - compared with passive IR [infrared] that is easier to interpret," Alexander said. The clarity of the night image will be of great value to someone who drives on secluded roads or has to park in remote, unlit areas.

Analysts said that the real market for night vision systems will arrive when the technology can use machine vision to detect obstacles and warn the driver. Until then, talking up the multiple benefits could result in "conquest" sales for some automakers.

Source: ABI Research.