Reverse cameras were the most sought after devices in any vehicle and up to a few years ago, this luxury device was only found in premium brand cars.
Lately, this safety feature comes as standard in more affordable and even budget cars, though not as advanced as the premium brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW and the Lexus ranges, to mention a few.
These cameras add value and comfort to the vehicle, but like any new and advanced feature, it took engineers many years to develop these devices to where it is today.
Some call it the ‘bird’s eye view’ camera, others a ‘top view’ camera, but most dealers refer to is as a 360˚ camera when presenting the car to potential buyers.
Call it what you want to, but this function brought a new dimension to road safety, safer parking and even assists drivers manoeuvring cars in tight spaces and corners.
In most cases, the cameras are linked to a sound sensor that warns the operator of any hazards that might damage surrounding cars.
But how does this feature work?
There are up to six cameras installed on the car. The visuals of the all the cameras are then combined through a computer as one, giving the drone or satellite the images.
Some vehicles, like the Land Rover Discovery, even have cameras installed at the bottom for operators to see the terrain directly under the vehicle to ensure obstacles like rocks and other debris does not damage the car.
The 360˚ camera has three indicating lines, green, amber and red, indicating to the driver when it safe to reverse, or when an object gets in the way. The red line indicator is connected to an alarm that warns the driver when they are at risk of an impact.
More premium vehicles have a camera that is synchronised with the vehicle’s indicator, and, depending on the direction of the turn, the side camera will show the driver the distance between a curb or any other object.
The Haval T300’s, called the Tank, camera shows vehicles approaching the Tank from behind to ensure the driver is aware of what is happening right around the vehicle.
Top Revs established that there are aftermarket 360˚ cameras that can be bought and installed by accredited audio and other accessories installers.
The safety and benefits of such devices in any vehicle can never be over emphasised, as it has assisted many drivers in avoiding incidents that are both costly and deadly.
These cameras are not only limited to smaller vehicles, as even trucks and advanced tractors come with it.
Drivers must ensure they clean the lenses of the cameras on a regular basis, since dirt tends to cover the lenses and give a blurry, or in some cases no images, due to debris clogging the glass.
The 360˚ screen does not only display the vehicle’s top views, but also shows the vehicle’s status, like GPS coordinates, driving mode, radio frequencies and many more, through various applications available.
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