Alpine Safety View System for Commercial Vehicles

In-car systems manufacturer Alpine has just announced that it’s working on a new technology destined to improve safety for seeing around corners maneuvering, lane changing and parking. The innovative camera system is likely to be factory fitted and on the road in less than three years.

In fact, the device will provide a “top view” and will allow truck and bus drivers to see around blind corners. The system is linked with a navigation database that offers the ability to see all of the vehicle’s surroundings, therefore eliminating dangerous blind spots.

When approaching a junction, a front mounted camera shows the view to the left and right as well as straight ahead and displays the images on a screen in the cab. Moreover, for lane changing, cameras on the side of vehicle eliminate blind spots.

“According to insurance data, the vast majority of accidents involving lorries happen on motorways and many are a result of the HGV being left-hand drive and this causing a blind spot on the right of their vehicle,” says Alpine’s OEM business manager Keith Price.

Furthermore, with the help of the “Top View”, the driver is able to park safely, seeing all four sides. The technology works by processing multiple camera views together with road information from a navigation database.

The first prototypes have been tested on cars but Alpine believes the safety aspect is much more relevant to larger commercial vehicles. “This technology could help eliminate being sideswiped on the motorway or just avoid damage when backing into a loading bay,” adds Price. “It could also be useful for bus applications to see passengers as they dismount or cross the road.”