Side view cameras/mirrors

What is the possibility of integrating sideview cameras or even mirrors into the rear of the wheel fairings? Seems like it would possibly be slightly more aerodynamic and maybe meet the side mirror requirement in some jurisdictions. I'm completely assuming that wheel fairings are visible from a seated position for the mirror option, the camera system would work. Obvious downside I can think of would be the addition of unsprung mass and part complexity. I'd like to think the difference would be minimal.

6 comments

6 Comments

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OceanDragon

May 10, 2021

In the 70's, it was popular to put the side mirrors on the front fenders in Japan. These were mostly on sports cars and sedans like the Fair Lady (240-Z). Many had a slightly convex curvature, similar to what you find on our right sided mirrors. My 1962 XKE roadster still has the fender mounted Raydyot mirror.

Ken Kobayashi

May 12, 2021

Replying to

Actually all cars sold in Japan used to have hood-mounted mirrors because of an archaic law that required it. Imported cars were allowed to have door-mounted wing mirrors starting in the late 70s, and domestic cars starting in the mid 80s. After that, every single manufacturer switched to door-mounted mirrors. (Except a couple of Toyota limousines, because they are designed to look old-fashioned.) Hood-mounted mirrors do have less of a blind spot, but the image in the mirror is tiny because the mirror is so far away. It can also be distracting because you can't look away from it without taking your eyes off the road.

Ken Kobayashi

May 10, 2021

The further away the mirror, the larger it needs to be to provide the same view angle at the same scale. Putting the "wing mirror" on the wheel fairing would mean smaller image scale, or smaller view angle, or a physically larger mirror. For the camera option, the wheel pods are unsprung, so it would see a lot of vibration. And digital image stabilization would add a time lag, which would be highly undesirable for a real-time display.

Len

May 07, 2021

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Nathan Armstrong, their CTO said “The camera lenses ...Two on the top side near the logo and top are positioned in a place where it is basically self cleaning because of its aerodynamic design

Lack of that cause “ eddies“ from the passing aire, depositing debris, snow etc on the lens

These are solid areas to so the vibrations are minimal????

Matt

May 07, 2021

Replying to

Vibrations are a non issue for cameras these days, digital stabilization can be very very good. I didn't think about the self cleaning prospect of the camera location though. That makes sense the rear of my current SUV gets pretty damn dirty in a hurry anytime it's wet out.

OceanDragon

May 07, 2021

Nice to think outside of the box...we had brought this up before. It would work out well until you enter a curve or make a turn. At that point the view of the camera would then rotate with the wheel causing the inboard camera to view the side of the car, and the outboard camera to view a few lanes over. Maybe a fixed point on the upper A-arm within the shrouded body may work. You are correct in that we really don't need another thing hung off the end of the suspension no matter how small. It sooner or later adds up weight and cabling complexities.