While surround-view camera systems can produce views that resemble those taken by a camera-equipped drone floating 25 feet above your car, they are not “real.” Instead, data gathered from several digital cameras positioned in key locations around a vehicle is computer-assembled and synthesized to create the images and perspectives displayed by the surround-view camera system.
Although six cameras can be used in a surround-view camera system, four cameras are the most common configuration. One is placed in the grille up front, typically. Four wide-angle cameras are installed: two in the outside rearview mirror locations, one in the back of the car that also serves as the back-up camera. With six cameras, drivers can see what is on the other side of impediments like walls and other cars thanks to side-view cameras added to the front-wheel position.
The magic happens once video signals from the cameras are routed into an image-processing program in the system’s computer. These many inputs are dissected and combined to provide a top-down, synthetic representation of the car and its surroundings that is still positionally accurate. It’s impossible to believe the images weren’t taken from 25 feet above the car because they display in most modern systems with such lifelike quality.
In This Article...
What is a car camera with a 360-degree view?
The 360 Degree View Car Camera, also known as a Bird’s Eye View Car Camera or a Surround View Camera System, is a group of gadgets that work together to give the driver a real-time view of their surrounds. The infotainment system, which often houses this view, is directly projected onto the hardware of the dashboard.
The software for the surround vision camera system shows the automobile and its surroundings in a way that makes it appear as though a drone is filming it from from above. The visual screen is likewise divided, showing the top view of the car on one side and the front, back, and side views on the other.
The simplicity with which drivers can maneuver the car into a parking space while deftly avoiding collision with neighboring obstructions is one of the system’s main benefits.
To the outsider, this would appear to be magic, but in reality, it is simply the result of a set of camera sensors and image processors, augmented with a dash of data science!
One of the more interesting new in-vehicle technologies is the ability to see your automobile from above when it is parked. And how does it operate?
The 360-degree parking monitor, also known as bird’s eye, top-down, around, or surround-view, which simulates a view from above the car and the area surrounding it, is one piece of new-car technology that is likely to impress.
Uninitiated passengers frequently ask what kind of magic is going on when they see a bird’s-eye view of the automobile on the touchscreen.
The actual technology behind it is still quite ingenious, despite the temptation to claim that the car launches a drone when you pick reverse or that the auto maker has a vast satellite network.
The camera system works by combining camera feeds from various locations around the car—typically the grille, beneath the side mirrors, and close to the boot latch—to create a comprehensive view that is shown on the infotainment screen of the vehicle. In most cases, you can choose one of these cameras to view it in full-screen mode.
The cameras use incredibly wide-angle lenses to catch as much of your surroundings as possible.
Software combines the images to provide the impression that you are being shot from roughly 10 meters straight above, with a picture of a car in the center to serve as a point of reference.
The forward, back, or side views can be displayed on a split screen with the 360-degree image, as demonstrated above.
When the reverse gear is engaged, the system activates similarly to a reversing camera.
Because certain systems’ simulated aerial views can be skewed, dotted lines are added to show you your car’s actual width so you can avoid obstructions and kerbs.
To ensure precision, front and rear parking sensors are employed with audible warnings.
The 360-degree camera is largely promoted as a safety feature because it makes it easier to notice pedestrians, especially kids, when turning around or maneuvering into small spaces. However, its primary function is to lessen the likelihood of falls and scratches, which ultimately saves a lot of money.
Watch this video to see how BMW uses surround-view cameras.
If you stop to think about it, the technology improvement in regular cars nowadays is remarkable. It used to be the case that when backing up, you actually had to use your mirrors, but that is no longer the case. In fact, rear-view cameras are now mandated to be installed on all new cars in the US, and that’s a good thing, of course. Nevertheless, some automakers go much further; BMW is a prime example.
The Surround View optional feature has been made available by the Bavarian company to interested clients for a while, and it is unquestionably a fantastic solution. Basically, it allows you to observe the car from the outside thanks to cameras placed all over. There are three: one at the back, two within each side mirror (one on each side), and one in the front, usually exactly at the top of the grille. By combining them, a virtual representation of the vehicle and its surroundings can be produced and displayed on the iDrive screen of the vehicle.
These days, a lot of automobile manufacturers have that, and it is incredibly stylish. Separate control for each section is something they do not have though. BMW’s Surround View enables you to view the automobile and its surroundings from a certain angle, as the video below demonstrates. This can be done using a variety of input methods, including touching the screen, the optional Gesture Control system, the iDrive controller, and more. The most impressive is the last one.
As an added measure of safety, you can turn on the cameras while driving through the city. For instance, if sight is limited while you are pulling out of a busy street, you can activate the front end camera to see if the way is clear. This feature is especially helpful on winding, historic European streets. The rear-view camera mounted on the boot can activate and even alert you to oncoming traffic when you start to drive away in reverse.
What do 360° parking cameras do?
The front grille of the automobile, the area above the license plate in the back, and the housings beneath each wing mirror all typically have cameras.
You can choose to view the video feed from one camera or have all of them stitched together for a 360-degree bird’s eye view of your surroundings, depending on the manufacturer.
Due to the fact that you can’t see what’s below your window when backing into a small area, this feature is really helpful.
How Does the 360° Camera Operate?
An array of images obtained from numerous cameras positioned all around the car are used by a 360-degree view system. These cameras are strategically placed throughout the vehicle to provide a wide vision and cover blind spots. Typically, these spots are your car’s front grille, the area underneath the side mirrors, and the back.
The actual action takes place in the computer of the car, where these individual photos are combined to create a single 360-degree view. The software in your car’s computer takes these photos from the multiple cameras and runs a series of operations to put them together. It eliminates the wide-lens distortion, removes the overlapped portions of the photos, and stitches the images together to give you a perfectly clear view of the area around your car.
In the end, the software shows a view of the area around your car along with a graphic of it and gridlines. Now you have an easy way to determine if you need to steer more or less to fit into that parking space.
The 360-degree image alone might not be completely accurate, but when combined with proximity sensors and the flexibility to move between cameras for various angles, it will be smoothed out and all blind spots will be covered, making parking simpler.
How should I operate my BMW camera?
Go to your iDrive menu to turn on the BMW Drive Recorder for the first time.
- Choose “Apps.”
- Activate “Installed apps.”
- Select “Drive Recorder.”
- Accept the disclaimer as written.
- Check “Recording allowed” under “Settings.”
- Prior to and following the trigger, configure the recording duration.
- Set up preferred cameras to be utilized for recording at “Camera selection.”
- Choose between automatic, manual, or both recording types.
How many cameras are there on a BMW?
With up to five cameras, the BMW X5 can see well in every circumstance. The front bumper has two integrated front-end Side View cameras*, one on the left and one on the right. The Control Display shows both images to offer you a good perspective while parking.
When parking, the Rear View camera also offers helpful assistance. The image’s interactive lane lines let the driver know whether or not the parking space is big enough.
The camera system is completed by the Top View cameras in the side mirrors. The technology creates a bird’s-eye view of the BMW X5 and its current location using the data from the Rear View camera. Each motion, whether you’re pulling into or out of a parking place, is easy and secure.
*Might not be offered at the time of purchase. Please consult the authorized BMW Center in your area.
There is a lot of video content on the website after this one. This could result in longer loading times for slower internet connections (like those made possible by modems or ISDN).
How do cars use 360-degree cameras?
One camera is insufficient for a 360-degree camera system. Instead, numerous cameras are placed strategically all over the car, often on each bumper (within an emblem, in the grille, or close to the trunk release). The camera array turns on when you move into reverse or, in some cars, when you click a button. Each camera’s perspective is interpreted by software, which then combines all of the images into one on your infotainment screen. Once the car is traveling at traffic speeds, the cameras turn off to prevent distraction.
Only one of the cameras can be used by some vehicles to display the view. To prevent scuffing on a curb, for instance, the passenger-side camera can display a closer picture of the wheels. The front camera may also display whatever that is in front of the hood, such as a parking space or off-road obstacles.
More recent 360-degree camera systems go beyond. They can be altered to show many exterior viewpoints rather than just a top-down or single-side perspective of the car. It appears as though a drone-mounted camera is floating outside your car and switching to the angle you choose. Unfortunately, employing flying robots is more exciting than how this technology operates. Simply put, they have more sophisticated software that combines the images from many cameras into movable perspectives with an image of your car in the center.