Perhaps the most devastating feeling in the world would be knowing that you unwittingly harmed your child or other family member. Chevrolet is taking drastic measures to reduce the number of tragic accidents that happen every year. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, nearly 40 percent of back over crashes occurred in residential areas at low speeds – most or all of which could potentially have been avoided with an extra set of eyes for the driver. Chevrolet is introducing Surround Vision technology in several 2018 model year vehicles to help improve visibility in all directions around a vehicle.
Fast-Moving Targets
Children move quickly, and can easily dart behind a vehicle or be hidden in a blindspot, often with catastrophic results. Introducing this technology now allows Chevrolet to add an “extra set of eyes” for each driver who hits the road in their vehicles in the future. Studying how drivers interact with viewing systems allows the vehicle designers to look for places where there are gaps in visibility, and use advanced electronic components to fill in the blind spots that are common to many vehicles. This mode is activated when the vehicle is placed into reverse gear, indicating an intention to back up the vehicle – an activity that is perhaps the most dangerous as visibility can be limited in traditional vehicles.
Surround Vision Explained
The smart systems understand when you’re putting your vehicle in reverse, and activate four standard cameras around the vehicle to provide a true 360-degree view of the surrounding area. Two mirrors are stationed on each side, the front grille houses a forward-looking camera while a rear-facing camera system is found in the back of the vehicle. The images are stitched together and displayed seamlessly – providing the driver and any passengers with clear and precise real-time footage of the immediate area. While no camera system can replace an active focus on the environment, Surround Vision helps fill in any holes for even the most attentive driver. This functionality is most helpful when drivers are moving at a slow rate of speed, as they can carefully review their surroundings directly from within the vehicle.
Chevrolet continues their decades-long focus on family safety with the new Surround Vision 360-degree view of the vehicle. While there are still a few small spots around the corners where visibility is not perfect, this technology provides a vast improvement over their competitors in the realm of exterior vehicle visibility. Look for Surround Vision in upcoming 2018 versions of popular Chevrolet vehicles such as the Equinox, Bolt and Traverse.
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