On September 18, 2008, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (TYO: 7267), the second largest Japanese auto-maker, announced to develop a multi-view camera system that enables the driver to view from multiple-wide-angle CCD cameras. This will help to reduce blind spots, enable smooth parallel or garage parking and enhance safe driving in intersections with limited visibility. The new multi-view camera system will be applied to Honda Odyssey which will be launched in October in
The multi-view camera system includes four wide-angle CCD cameras located in the front and rear of the vehicle and on the right and left door mirrors. The new system synthesizes images from these cameras and displays the synthesized image on the navigation screen with additional information including a projection line, which shows the vehicle's projected trajectory calculated based on steering angle information, and a reference line, which provides a reference for the distance between the vehicle and approaching obstacles. This provides support to the driver in parking, enhancing visibility, and avoiding contact in narrow driving conditions.
In order to enhance vehicle safety, in 2001, Honda first introduced a rear view camera system in its vehicles which enables rear visibility while backing up. This was followed by the development of Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) to improve nighttime visibility during turning in 2003. In 2004, Honda developed Intelligent Night Vision System which would detect pedestrians and provide warnings to the driver.
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