360 Degree Video Systems

[SiennaGuy]

OK, I admit that I'm a tech junky. At a recent RV show, there was a company that was promoting a 360 Degree Video System. It looked like it was similar to the system that Mercedes has on some of their sedans. Nissan and Audi also offer systems like this. They all use 4 cameras and a computer to simulate a bird's eye view of your vehicle, which should help a lot in parking and changing lanes in a Class B. Has anybody tried one of these? What did you think of it?

The Mercedes system:
http://techcenter.mercedes-benz.com/en/ ... etail.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r8LNJs0Ukg

The Smart-I System (Has a built-in DVR):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-I6MfQd1B0

[SiennaGuy]

Here's a demo of this type of system being used in an Audi. There's a camera in the front grill, one in back where a regular backup camera would be mounted and one in each side mirror. On Class B vehicles, the side cameras could be attached to the body of the vehicle. The small computer that stitches all of these images together is inside the vehicle someplace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOMOY6rH7EY

[youtube:nao66q25]QOMOY6rH7EY[/youtube:nao66q25]

This demo is of someone parking with a Rydeen brand system guiding them. This particular system is available from Amazon for about $635. The cameras for this system look very much like standard wide-angle backup cameras. I expect that there will be more aftermarket systems in the near future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl5cthd1nL8

[youtube:nao66q25]gl5cthd1nL8[/youtube:nao66q25]

http://www.rydeenmobile.com/360DVR/360DVR.html

Below is the kind of thing you'd see on your dashboard display with one of these systems. Note that the lawn and sidewalk in the overhead view wouldn't be simulations. They'd be actual images of what's currently around the car.

[Davydd]

Looks interesting. I wonder if safety people would not say it would be distracting if the driver focused on the monitor.

Mercedes Benz puts a lot of safety features in its Sprinters. We just ordered a new one with the Active Safety Plus Package that includes:

Highbeam Assist
Lane Keeping Assist
Blind Spot Assist
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST

http://www.mbsprinterusa.com/sprinter/n ... 014#safety

That's a lot that we don't currently have. We will also get the in-dash backup camera. The only thing we are not getting and opted out on was the Parktronic Assist.