Bird’s eye view cameras trialled on Marks & Spencer articulated trucks 05 December 2014

Trials of potentially life-saving 360° camera technology designed not for rigids but much larger articulated HGVs, have been hailed a success by developers Brigade and Continental.

For three months, this first of a kind Brigade Backeye360 Elite system, based on Continental's ASL360, has been put through its paces, providing a surround view image for a full combination.

Backeye360 Elite uses four ultrawide-angle camera lenses mounted on the vehicle to capture all blind spots, with digital images being simultaneously video-stitched to provide a real-time bird's-eye view, delivered to the driver's monitor.

According to Brigade marketing manager Mark Nicholson, the new system will help to avoid tragedies by making it easier and quicker for a driver of an articulated HGV to assess and react to potential hazards.

"I am pleased to see a marked progress in the use of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on large vehicles," comments Andrew Gilligan, Cycling Commissioner for London.

"Surround view systems offer a great aid to drivers in incident avoidance, making London's roads a safer place to cycle, walk and motorcycle," he continues.

"Safer roads for everyone result in the driving down of the human and economic cost of serious incidents on the capital's roads."

Meanwhile, Tony Whitehouse, fleet manager at Marks and Spencer, adds: "We've been trialling the system now on rigid and articulated vehicles in our fleet, and proven its utility in real-world situations that our drivers face daily.

"Drivers' feedback is that they fully expect it to make a positive contribution to the safety of our vehicles, employees and other road users."

And John Powell, Continental Chassis and Safety/ASL360, says: "It is great to see companies taking such a proactive lead on the adoption of advance driver assistance such as ASL360.

"Surround View is becoming commonplace on cars and Continental is a leading innovator in the use of such systems."

Says Nicholson: "The results are excellent and really valuable. Only when you use new technology in real life situations can you be sure it actually delivers the improvements in road safety for which we are all striving."

Author
Brian Tinham

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