A high tech tool once reserved for the military and law enforcement is now a feature on ordinary cars. So what’s the story behind infrared night-vision? I recently learned that the pricey technology, which aids elderly drivers such as my aunt took years to mass market.
About seven years ago Cadillac announced it planned to be the first automaker to install infrared night-vision scopes on its vehicles. But, the desire to incorporate the technology began long before that. In fact, Raytheon, a leading military high-tech supplier, had been working with General Motors since the mid-1980s. In the 1990s Cadillac took the lead in designing a system for the 2000 Cadillac DeVille. Company executives say they chose the DeVille because it made sense to start with a model whose owners tend to be older, since night vision dims as drivers get older.
Cadillac Night Vision system is rather basic. It uses a Raytheon infrared sensor that captures images on the road and translates them via computer into the image that the driver sees on the lower right-hand portion of the dash. The infrared camera can see as far as 500 yards beyond the range of the headlights, and its field of view is also wider than that of the headlights. Which means that not only can drivers clearly see a person changing a flat tire on the side of the road, the system can also spot a burglar lurking outside one’s home, even if he is hiding behind trees or bushes. The added security benefit gives the driver a chance to drive away or call police instead of getting out and risking injury.
Speaking of safety (and perhaps another reason to consider opting for the night-vision technology), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than half of all traffic fatalities occur at night. What’s more, a startling 62% of all pedestrian deaths, usually occur because a driver didn’t see a person walking along the road.
Is your car equipped with infrared night-vision? Would you consider adding the option?
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