Most people are familiar with backup camera systems that allow you to see what's behind a vehicle when moving in reverse. This feature can be helpful when easing out of a parking space or driveway. But what about objects and obstacles on all sides of the car?
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
One advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) lets you see what's around your vehicle to help you navigate tight parking situations safer and easier than ever. It's called a surround-view camera, also known as a 360-degree camera.
Different automakers have different names for this technology. For example, Nissan and Infiniti refer to it as an Around View Monitor. However, no matter the nomenclature, this feature enhances visibility and driver confidence in slow-moving parking situations.
When driving at low speeds, a surround-view camera gives you a 360-degree view of your vehicle as though you're seeing it from above. The perspective is similar to what a low-hovering drone would see. Intuitively, this overhead shot is impossible to achieve, but we'll get to that shortly.
The view covers an area that extends a few feet around the car's body to show the vehicle in relationship to adjacent parked cars, curbs, and other objects. The goal is to give the driver an overall sense of the vehicle's geography to help guide it safely in or out of a parking spot. A surround-view camera also serves as a safeguard to see if a child or pet is standing nearby.
The surround-view camera's image almost always appears on the central infotainment system display on the dashboard, in conjunction with a backup camera view. The two images are often presented in a split-screen format to simultaneously show what's around and behind the car. The image appears when the driver puts the vehicle in reverse or activates the surround-view camera by pressing a button.
Vehicle sensors often supplement a surround-view camera by offering audible warnings when the vehicle comes too close to objects.
Surround-view camera systems use multiple cameras around a vehicle to capture all sides of the car at the same time. The technology stitches this patchwork of images together to create a unified overhead shot. The top-down roof perspective is simulated to give the driver context, but the 360-degree image is live and real.
Most of the system's cameras are well-hidden in four locations. They are typically located on the front and rear bumpers and the underside of side mirror housings. But they can also be found in the front grille or the wheel wells.
Most automakers offer a surround-view camera as standard or optional equipment, particularly on uplevel models and trim levels.
Differentiating characteristics between brand offerings may include image resolution, the size of the dashboard display, and the seamlessness of the combined camera angles. Higher-end models may offer on-demand capability and wider lenses for a larger field of view.
Aftermarket surround-view camera systems are available for older models that don't offer this technology. These kits get the job done but are less sophisticated than their factory-installed counterparts.
With larger vehicles on the road, parking lots can be challenging to navigate. A surround-view 360-degree camera gives drivers unprecedented visibility to help prevent low-speed accidents and curb rash on wheels while maneuvering and parking a vehicle.
To learn more about ADAS technologies, visit the Shopping Guides section of the website.
Jessica Shea Choksey is an experienced writer in the automotive field. In addition to JDPower.com, she was a correspondent for PBS's MotorWeek. Her work has also appeared in AutoTrader.
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