Night Vision Alternatives Can Influence Vehicle Sales, According to ABI Research

NEW YORK--While availability of a night vision system is unlikely to play a pivotal role for many consumers in deciding which new vehicle to buy, there are some circumstances in which it may be the key to a sale. The ability to detect naturally camouflaged animals in their habitats along the roadside is one instance cited by truckers who drive through less-populated areas of Canada.

“One of the features of passive (or far-infrared) cameras is that they detect heat rather than light,” says principal analyst David Alexander, “and a lesser-known aspect is that they can have some value during the day, as well as at night.” Early warning of an animal hiding in the undergrowth, or a child hidden behind a parked car, is something that people may consider worth having.

Heat-sensitive cameras can also help detect warm-bodied objects in poor-visibility situations, such as fog or snow. This extra warning capability might sway a buyer who lives away from a big city or in an area that regularly sees bad weather. Image quality tends to make it hard for people to identify details, but the presence of a potential danger is easy to spot.

“The latest active, or near-infrared, sensitive cameras offer some help in bad weather,” says Alexander, “and they have the advantage of delivering a much clearer image (compared with passive IR technology) that is easier to interpret.” The clarity of the night image will be of great value to someone who drives on secluded roads or has to park in remote, unlit areas.

ABI Research believes that the real market for night vision systems will arrive when the technology can use machine vision to detect obstacles and warn the driver. Until then, talking up the multiple benefits could result in conquest sales for some automakers.

ABI Research’s "Automotive Night Vision Systems" (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/market_research/Automotive_Night_ Vision_Systems) study provides an analysis of global market trends, cost, and technological evaluations of different approaches and strategies used by system developers, along with a discussion on current product announcements. System sales forecasts are provided globally, by region, through 2012. The study forms part of ABI Research’s “Driver Assistance” (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Driver_Assistance_Researc h_Service) research service. (Due to their length, the above URLs may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations supporting annual research programs, intelligence services, and market reports in broadband and multimedia, RFID and M2M, wireless connectivity, mobile wireless, transportation, and emerging technologies. For information, visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.