Car tech is a big feature at CES this year, with a number of companies showing off their self-driving technology and in-car systems.
BMW has taken a different approach, this year it has unwrapped the i8 Mirrorless concept.
Cameras replaced the side-view and rear-view mirrors of the car and one big adjustment that drivers will just have to make is they don't need to look at the side when driving. They look like side mirrors, but they're just cameras facing backwards. Any hazards, such as a vehicle in the blind spot, are shown with yellow warning lights.
So what's the big advantage besides cool technology? Well, one advantage is that it removes the threat of a blind spot. A camera facing back eliminates the angle at which drivers would see a mirror.
Previous mirrorless cars have used camera flush mounted at the side of the car, but BMW's concept instead uses side-mirror-like wings with cameras on them, which also serve as signal indicators.
Instead of a rear-view mirror, BMW simply placed an LCD display at the top of the windshield. Once users start driving, however, things get really easy. Instead of having to look around, users can simply look at the display, which takes information from all four cameras, and fuses them into one image.
"The imagery was bright and clear, much more informative than what I usually see in side and rear-view mirrors," said Philipp Hoffmann, BMW's project manager of Camera Monitor Systems.
As part of the system, BMW uses Gorilla Glass as a cover and has a heating element to melt any snow, making the system far more weather-resistant than a simple mirror.
While the car is just a concept right now, BMW is talking to officials in Europe and the U.S., hoping to get regulations modified. These regulations currently mandate the use of side mirrors for visibility.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr
