Thermal Imaging Technology Brightens Night Driving

06/13/96

Texas Instruments showed off their latest consumer-oriented infrared vision system this week at "Moving Kids Safely 96," a US Department of Transportation conference. The thermal imaging technology utilized by the company's NightDriver product will allow drivers to see in the dark by turning the heat energy emitted by objects into images. By looking at the thermal landscapes on the road ahead, drivers will be able to see three to five times farther than they can with the aid of headlights.

Infrared night glasses, or thermal vision systems, have long been used by the army on night patrols, and Texas Instruments has long been a leader in developing the technology that makes seeing in the dark easier. NightDriver appears to be a consumer version of the company's "Driver's Vision Enhancer," which has been added to all of the US Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

Car makers are currently evaluating NightDriver. The system runs off of a normal 12-volt DC car battery and uses a Delco Electronics dashboard mounted display to project thermal images on the lower part of the car's windshield. The thermal imaging is not affected by the lights of oncoming cars, and helps to reduce the glare and distraction of oncoming traffic. Texas Instruments hopes that the first NightDriver units will be available on auto mobiles by the year 2000.

NewsBytes news agency reported that 55% of all driving fatalities happen at night, while only 28 percent of all driving takes place then. Texas Instrument spokesperson David Lubbell commented on those statistics: "Seeing the dangers ahead while driving at night or dusk is one of the greatest safety problems on our roads today."

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel