ABI: Automotive Night Vision Has Potential to Become Mainstream Application

February 27, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

Analysts said night vision technology may now have a more promising future when linked to the development of other camera-based safety systems.

"Integrating the ability to see better at night into the driving process is a huge challenge," said ABI Research senior analyst David Alexander. "But the biggest obstacle to opening up the mass market is cost."

Until now, the primary goal of a night vision system has been to deliver an enhanced image to the driver, who then has to interpret the extra information.

Analysts said with the advent of obstacle detection via machine vision, it will soon be possible for the vehicle to provide drivers with specific warnings of potential problems.

"Honda's system that is available today, but only in Japan, is the first generation of an 'intelligent' night vision function," said Alexander.

"But the cost is much too high for large volume sales. Use of the underlying object detection and identification technology from other camera-based applications could lead to a new category of night vision capability that is both low-cost and easy for drivers to use."

As functionality improves and image processing technology matures, the long-term future for night vision systems is positive. Analysts said market interest could bode well for tier one system developers such as Autoliv, Bosch, Hella, Siemens and Valeo, but positive feedback from the first purchasers of the latest generation of the technology is needed to deliver strong demand for current applications.

Source: ABI Research.