Automotive night vision

{{short description|Vehicle safety system}}

{{short description|Vehicle safety system}}

[[File:Audi A8 2013 (11209949525).jpg|thumb|right|[[Audi A8]] '''Night Vision Assistant''']]

[[File:Audi A8 2013 (11209949525).jpg|thumb|right|[[Audi A8]] '''Night Vision Assistant''']]

An '''automotive night vision''' system uses a [[thermographic camera]] to increase a [[Driving|driver's]] perception and seeing distance in darkness or poor weather beyond the reach of the vehicle's [[headlight]]s. Such systems are offered as optional equipment on certain premium vehicles. The technology was first introduced in the year 2000 on the [[Cadillac Deville]].{{cite web|url=http://ask.cars.com/2008/09/what-are-led-ta.html|title=What are LED taillights?|website=Cars.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922082341/http://ask.cars.com/2008/09/what-are-led-ta.html|archive-date=September 22, 2008}} This technology is based on the night vision devices (NVD), which generally denotes any electronically enhanced optical devices operate in three modes: image enhancement, thermal imaging, and active illumination.{{Cite book|title=Big Data and Visual Analytics|last1=Suh|first1=Sang|last2=Anthony|first2=Thomas|publisher=Springer|year=2018|isbn=9783319639154|location=Cham|pages=39}} The automotive night vision system is a combination of NVDs such as [[Thermographic camera|infrared cameras]], [[Global Positioning System|GPS]], [[Lidar]], and [[Radar]], among others to sense and detect objects.

An '''automotive night vision''' system uses a [[thermographic camera]] to increase a [[Driving|driver's]] perception and seeing distance in darkness or poor weather beyond the reach of the vehicle's [[headlight]]s. Automotive night vision systems generally rely on infrared sensors, which detect energy on the infrared spectrum. This allows the vehicle to perceive heat signatures from pedestrians and animals in dark conditions.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-25 |title=What Is an IR Sensor? - Lesson |url=https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/mis_sensor_lesson01 |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=TeachEngineering.org |language=en}} Such systems are offered as optional equipment on certain premium vehicles. Incorporating night vision technology adds to the growing complexity of modern vehicles. These systems require Electronic Control Units (ECUs) to process the raw data, which then must be integrated into the vehicle's existing data networks to function reliably with the engine and powertrain.{{Cite book |last=Basshuysen |first=Richard |title=Internal Combustion Engine Handbook |date=2016 |publisher=SAE International |others=Fred Schäfer, TechTrans |isbn=978-0-7680-8287-6 |edition=2nd |location=Warrendale |pages=766-788}} The technology was first introduced in the year 2000 on the [[Cadillac Deville]].{{cite web|url=http://ask.cars.com/2008/09/what-are-led-ta.html|title=What are LED taillights?|website=Cars.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922082341/http://ask.cars.com/2008/09/what-are-led-ta.html|archive-date=September 22, 2008}} This technology is based on the night vision devices (NVD), which generally denotes any electronically enhanced optical devices operate in three modes: image enhancement, thermal imaging, and active illumination.{{Cite book|title=Big Data and Visual Analytics|last1=Suh|first1=Sang|last2=Anthony|first2=Thomas|publisher=Springer|year=2018|isbn=9783319639154|location=Cham|pages=39}} The automotive night vision system is a combination of NVDs such as [[Thermographic camera|infrared cameras]], [[Global Positioning System|GPS]], [[Lidar]], and [[Radar]], among others to sense and detect objects.> Recent advancements have expanded automotive thermal imaging beyond driver displays, and are now being included in the sensor suites of autonomous vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).{{Cite web |date=Jan 5, 2026 |title=Teledyne FLIR OEM Debuts Tura Automotive-Qualified Thermal Camera at CES for AVs and ADAS |url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=MTPW000020260105em1500439&cat=a&ep=ASE |archive-url= |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=global.factiva.com}}>

==Display type==

==Display type==

===BMW===

===BMW===

'''BMW Night Vision''' introduced in 2005 on the [[BMW 7 Series (E65)]]. This system processes far infrared radiation, which minimizes non-essential information placing a greater emphasis on pedestrians and animals, allows for a range of 300 meters or nearly 1,000 feet, and avoids "dazzle" from headlights, road lights and similar intense light sources.{{cite press release|url=http://www.worldcarfans.com/2060130.001/bmw-night-vision-available-in-the-5-and-6-series-as-of-march |title=BMW Night Vision Available in the 5 and 6 Series as of March |publisher=Worldcarfans.com |date=2006-01-30 |access-date=2009-12-08|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130211061224/http://www.worldcarfans.com/10601307939/bmw-night-vision-available-in-the-5-and-6-series-as-of-march|archive-date=11 February 2013}}

'''BMW Night Vision''' introduced in 2005 on the [[BMW 7 Series (E65)]]. This system processes far infrared radiation, which minimizes non-essential information placing a greater emphasis on pedestrians and animals, allows for a range of 300 meters or nearly 1,000 feet, and avoids "dazzle" from headlights, road lights and similar intense light sources.{{cite press release|url=http://www.worldcarfans.com/2060130.001/bmw-night-vision-available-in-the-5-and-6-series-as-of-march |title=BMW Night Vision Available in the 5 and 6 Series as of March |publisher=Worldcarfans.com |date=2006-01-30 |access-date=2009-12-08|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130211061224/http://www.worldcarfans.com/10601307939/bmw-night-vision-available-in-the-5-and-6-series-as-of-march|archive-date=11 February 2013}}

2008 update added '''pedestrian detection''' system on the redesigned [[BMW 7 Series (F01)]], which flashes a caution symbol on the navigation/information screen and [[automotive head-up display]] when it detects pedestrians.{{cite web|url=http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/06/05/improved-night-vision-for-next-2009-bmw-7-series/ |title=Improved Night-Vision for next 2009 BMW 7-series |website=BMWBlog|date=2008-12-31 |access-date=2009-12-08}}

2008 update added '''pedestrian detection''' system on the redesigned [[BMW 7 Series (F01)]], which flashes a caution symbol on the navigation/information screen and [[automotive head-up display]] when it detects pedestrians.{{cite web|url=http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/06/05/improved-night-vision-for-next-2009-bmw-7-series/ |title=Improved Night-Vision for next 2009 BMW 7-series |website=BMWBlog|date=2008-12-31 |access-date=2009-12-08}} This updated system automatically scans up to 100 yards ahead of the vehicle when it reaches 25 mph, and applies a yellow tint to the pedestrians on the head-up display.{{Cite journal |last=Ahire |first=Aniket |date=2014 |title=Night Vision System in BMW |url=https://www.ripublication.com/iraer-spl/iraerv4n1spl_01.pdf |journal=International Review of Applied Engineering Research |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=1-10 |via=Research India Publications}}

2013 update added '''Dynamic Light Spot'''.

2013 update added '''Dynamic Light Spot'''.