Although they're meant to show what's happening on the road behind you, rear-view mirrors can be obstructed by headrests, passengers and luggage. To counter this, Cadillac is planning to replace the rear-view mirror with a video feed. It estimates a 300 percent increase in field of vision.
Other car manufacturers have previously used video feeds to provide drivers with a rear-facing view. Mazda, Toyota and Ford have all used a cutaway approach, while Audi has in some instances replaced the mirror altogether. Although Cadillac intends for a video feed to improve the functionality of the mirror, it will revert back to being a conventional electrochromatic mirror if needs be.
The firm says it will use 1280 x 240 resolution TFT-LCD display with 171 pixels per inch. In addition, it says an HD camera and high dynamic range video feed will reduce glare and provide a crisper image in low-light situations when compared to traditional rear-view mirrors.
The camera itself will be mounted outside the vehicle and will have a hydrophobic coating to repel water and keep it clear. In the event that the camera is covered or damaged, a toggle underneath the mirror will allow the driver to disable the video streaming and revert back to using a conventional mirror.
Cadillac expects to debut the technology in the 2016 Cadillac CT6.
Source: Cadillac
