- Imaging technology, which is currently mainly cameras, is exploding into the automotive space, and is set to grow at % CAGR to reach US$7.3B in 2021.
- Infotainment and ADAS propel automotive imaging.
- Imaging will transform the car industry en-route to the self-driving paradigm shift.
- A mazy technological roadmap will bring many opportunities.
- “From less than one camera per car on average in 2015, there will be more than three cameras per car by 2021”, announces Pierre Cambou, Activity Leader, Imaging at Yole. “It means 371 million automotive imaging devices”.
Growth of imaging for automotive is also being fueled by the park assist application, 360° surround view camera volume is therefore skyrocketing. While it’s becoming mandatory in the United-States to have a rearview camera by 2018, that uptake is dwarfed by 360° surround view cameras, which enable a “bird’s eye view” perspective. This trend is most beneficial to companies like Omnivision at sensor level and Panasonic and Valeo, which have become one the main manufacturers of automotive cameras.
Mirror replacement cameras are currently the big unknown and take-off will primarily depend on its appeal and car design regulation. Europe and Japan are at the forefront of this trend, which should become only slightly significant by 2021.
Solid state lidar is well talked about and will start to be found in high end cars by 2021. Cost reduction will be a key driver as the push for semi-autonomous driving will be felt more strongly by car manufacturers.
LWIR technology-based night vision cameras were initially perceived as a status symbol. However, they’re increasingly appreciated for their ability to automatically detect pedestrians and wildlife. LWIR solution will therefore become integrated into ADAS systems in future. From their side, 3D cameras will be limited to in-cabin infotainment and driver monitoring. This technology will be key for luxury cars and therefore is of limited use today.
I have an LWIR camera in my Audi and it is very helpful for driving around the Dartmouth campus after dark because students just walk in front of oncoming cars without pausing. For smart students they aren't so street smart, and don't realize they are basically invisible at night, especially relative to oncoming traffic headlights. I am very glad to have this camera because it is probably really bad when a professor runs over a student! I don't worry as much about deer and other wildlife.
ReplyDeleteHow about your own students? I assume they all know it.
DeleteI was mostly thinking about undergraduates. My own graduate students are too busy in the lab to walk around campus!
DeleteYour car is too silent and luxury. If you take a cheap car, it will be cheap and no LWIR is needed :))
DeleteCare to comment how well the LWIR works? Namely, does it work equally well in non-winter months when the temperature delta between person/environment is less? And/or if the person is wearing a heavy winter jacket that may limit heat radiation?
DeleteAnd, since you differentiate between grads/undergrads, any humorous observations of whether grads or undergrads generate more heat?
Can't afford the expensive camera in my car, so need to ask someone who can :-)
..interesting way to qualify "smart".
ReplyDeleteCan anyone help me to understand what hyper spectral imaging can bring to automotive?
ReplyDelete