On the road to night vision in cars

(Credit: Gadget Venue)

There are several powerful LED systems to improve road vision in cars, and just as many for bicycles to be seen by them. But with so many night-vision solutions apparently in search of a problem, there must be a way to make the technology widely available for safer driving after dark.

Digital imaging company Flir Systems, which specializes in infrared photography, has taken a step toward that goal with a deal to install its "PathFindIR" thermal imaging technology in BMWs, according to Gadget Venue. The system improves illumination and detects heat (as in warm bodies) as well, displaying the images on a dashboard-mounted LCD.

It's not perfect, of course--it requires the driver to divert his eyes briefly from the road, for instance--and at $4,425 it costs as much as an entire used car. But if the technology can eventually be built into the windshield, we think it would be well worth the price.

[veedubb8]

Interesting....

This is a cool product. I woudl like to point out the original post actually came from the SoundDomain blog. Check it out:
http://blog.sounddomain.com/2007/11/flir-pathfindir.html

They have a really cool video too.

[Jens.j]

Nothing new.

Umm...this is nothing new. The Mercedes S-Class has infra-red night vision as an optional extra and has had that for a while now. It does require taking your eyes off the road but it's still integrated excellently with the speedometre. BMW is merely catching up as it's about time for a new 7-series that doesn't have it's only legacy as iDrive.