- Pilot 2 consists of three cameras and a touch screen
- The thermal imaging camera works in low light and bad weather
- Similar technology will soon be available for motorcyclists
Vantrue chose the bustling halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center to showcase its latest, and possibly smartest, dash cam package to date.
Dubbed Pilot 2, this collection of front, rear, and thermal imaging cameras offers arguably one of the most comprehensive fields of view of any aftermarket automotive camera system on sale.
The Sony Starvis-powered front windshield camera, which actually consists of two lenses, records the action inside the cabin at 1080p; This is a great help for those professional drivers who want conclusive evidence of noisy passengers.
A secondary 2K front camera unit then records the action from the front windshield at 1440p, while a rear windshield-mounted camera covers what’s happening from behind in the same resolution. But what makes this package different is the surprisingly compact thermal imaging camera that is designed to mount on the outside of the vehicle.
It’s not much bigger than a matchbox, but it has an IP67 waterproof rating. The small unit can be mounted on the hood, just below the windshield, or neatly hidden in the front grille. Vantrue provides several methods to get it into the perfect position.
This then sends a live thermal feed to an included 6.25-inch touchscreen that can be mounted in the dash, acting as a media center for all the various viewings and recordings taking place.
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In poor weather or low light conditions, drivers can rearrange the display to only show a feed from the thermal imaging camera, which can detect heat signatures from humans, wildlife and other road users.
The Thermal Smart module also uses Vantrue’s detection algorithms to highlight anything it thinks could be a potential hazard on the road.
Yi Mei, the company’s marketing manager, told me at Vantrue’s booth at CES that the system can detect a heat signature from up to 200 feet away.
Using proprietary software, the display will highlight what it determines to be a potential hazard, track its movements, and then send audible warnings if it senses the driver needs to brake hard.
“When driving in fog, at night or in very heavy rain, it is sometimes impossible to see what is ahead, but a thermal imaging camera will see no matter the conditions,” explains Yi.
CarPlay and motorcycles
Vantrue’s marketing man says the Pilot 2 bundle will sell for around $600 when it goes on sale later this year, and adds that a Kickstarter campaign will be launched soon in which early adopters will receive the product for around $450.
Although it’s pricey, Vantrue hopes to sweeten the deal with the fact that its 6.25-inch touchscreen also doubles as an aftermarket solution for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For anyone driving an older car with outdated or non-existent infotainment setup, this could be a big plus. In addition to this, the small screen features a built-in speaker, but also houses an auxiliary slot for connecting an existing sound system.
Vantrue has big plans for its thermal imaging technology and Yi explains that a very similar system will soon be available for motorcyclists. The Falcon 2, as it is called, consists of similar but ultra-compact 2K resolution front and rear cameras that are specifically designed to be mounted on the body of a motorcycle.
In addition to this, the company is in the final stages of perfecting its digital cockpit which will be attached to the handlebars and will come complete with a separate remote control for easy operation with gloves.
It also works with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so passengers can add wireless headphones to enjoy audio on the go and use voice commands to interact with the system.
There’s no word on pricing for the Falcon 2 yet, but the company says it will arrive sometime in the third quarter of this year, along with the announcement that it will be the first company to also offer a wireless tire pressure monitoring system that can be adapted to any vehicle, two or four wheels, which will then work well with the Falcon 2 and Pilot 2 packages.
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