Ficosa says it has developed an electronic mirror composed of cameras and displays which implies an alternative option to the exterior rear-view mirrors of the car. This pioneering system, also known as CMS (Camera Monitor System), represents an authentic revolution for the automotive industry as well as an important progress towards the autonomous car, the company claims.
In the words of Víctor Iglesias, Ficosa's Systems architect: "The electronic mirror offers a new safer and more comfortable driving experience through the inclusion in the vision systems of ADAS (Advanced Systems Driver Assistance), as the traffic detection function, which provides information to the driver about the vehicles around it."
Fourth generation of the electronic mirror
Since 2007 Ficosa has been working intensely in the electronic mirror research and development, evolving it to create the 4th generation of this system. This new version is a prototype which is very close to the mass production concept; consequently the company is already working with several clients to customize it according to their specific needs.
The 4th generation of Ficosa's electronic mirror is designed to comply with the latest regulations concerning this area and significant improvements have been incorporated with regard to the previous versions. The system is composed of two cameras integrated into the sides of the car chassis, which transmit the image with very low latency at two high resolution displays installed inside the vehicle. The cameras are equipped with wide-angle lenses, High Dynamic Range (HDR) sensors of 1.3 megapixels and 60 frames per second.
The electronic mirror stands out for expanding the field of view, eliminating blind spots. In turn, the small size of the cameras greatly improves the car aerodynamic coefficient which involves a reduction of fuel consumption and the wind noise perceived from inside the vehicle.
For his part, Alan Montesi, Ficosa's ADAS business unit director, said: "Unlike other components' manufacturers, Ficosa offers the added value of developing the whole system of the electronic mirror thanks to our expertise in electronic engineering and our extensive know-how in vision systems. We implement the full integration of this solution to provide it completely finished to the cars' manufacturers, being able to include additional options such as the cleaning system, heated camera and the blinkers function."
The important Ficosa's commitment to electronic mirror research and development has meant several patents for the company, it said.
