New Bendix® XVision™ Technology Enhances Nighttime Vision
for On-Highway Vehicles
|
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, an operating unit of Honeywell
International Inc., has introduced XVision™, the first infrared night vision system
developed specifically for over-the-road vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
Bendix developed XVision with partner Raytheon Commercial Infrared. Honeywell, the
world leader in infrared technologies, has applied similar infrared technology to other
product lines.
 |
XVision Camera
The Bendix XVision thermal, or heat-sensing, infrared camera (6 inches by 6.6 inches) is
mounted on the vehicle's exterior. Images are projected onto a display unit mounted inside
the cab. |
In-Cab Display Unit
From the Bendix XVision in-cab display unit (4.5 inches by 9 inches), the driver sees a
real-time, black and white, thermal image of the road. |
 |
How XVision Works
XVision uses an exterior-mounted, heat-sensing, infrared camera to detect pedestrians,
animals and objects in front of the vehicle up to 1,500 feet away or more three to five
times further than a driver can see at night with headlights. XVision's extended vision
range gives the driver up to four times longer to react to potential road hazards than
with headlights alone.
The images appear to the driver on an in-cab display unit, which is either mounted just
above the driver's line of sight, flipping down much like a visor, or mounted just below
the driver's line of site, flipping up from the console.
XVision Driver's View
 |
A view from the driver's seat demonstrates the Bendix XVision display unit detecting a
stalled vehicle and two people in the distance. The XVision camera sees three to five
times farther than a driver can see at night with standard headlights. |
| With an extended vision range, drivers have 18
to 20 seconds to react to objects on the road four times longer than with headlights
alone. Because the XVision camera is not sensitive to light, it eliminates the glare of
oncoming traffic. |
The driver sees a real-time, black and white, thermal
visual image of the road in which warmer objects, such as pedestrians or animals, show as
bright white, while cooler objects, like bridge abutments, guardrails, or trees, show in
darker shades of gray or black. The camera can sense temperature differences as slight as
0.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the camera is not affected by light, the display image is
not susceptible to glare from on-coming headlights.
Product Availability
XVision was released in December 2001 as a retrofit system available through any Bendix
distributor or dealer. Each kit includes an infrared camera, display unit, all brackets
and installation wiring, an installation video and a service guide.
For more information call 800-247-2725
or visit www.Bendix.com. |
|
