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Rear View LCD?

Posted by Cliff on from the but-I-want-an-in-windshield-hud dept.

pctainto asks: "I'm doing some work designing a solar car for a certain unnamed university. We are contemplating installing a camera and LCD system to replace the rear view mirror, since it is hard to turn one's head in the car and it would make designing the cockpit much easier. Does anyone know of a camera/LCD system that would be relatively simple and would be able to survive for a few hours without needing a new battery? We need something with relatively high resolution, so, something like an x10 camera wouldn't work very well. (You have to be able to identify letters that are 20 cm high from a distance of 15 m)"

2 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. It's heavier, consumes more power, etc... by stienman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Other solar car teams install these things (4-5" lcd, rearward facing camera) for a variety of reasons. It can provide a smaller cross section for wind resistance, and the camera and lcd can be placed more conveniently.

    However, these same teams end up turning them off because they are practically useless (they put them in to meet requirements, but don't engineer them to actually work well), and they consume precious energy. In some cases more than would be wasted by placing a proper aerodynamic mirror externally.

    So they turn them off (against the rules) for the best of both worlds - lower wind resistance, lower power consumption - but at the risk of being disqualified.

    Furthermore, there is allready so little room in the cockpit, do you honestly think you can find a good place to put it? Outside the window is not only convenient, but frees up precious space inside the vehicle.

    That being said, you'll need to look for a nice high resolution camera (broadcast quality tv or better) and matching LCD. These will be very expensive, but solar cars aren't cheap and I'm sure you can find someone to donate one.

    Look particularily at what large motorhomes use. A local RV store ought to steer you in the right direction.

    -Adam

  2. The obvious solution seems to be.. by Mad+Quacker · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A small periscope type system?. You can get the rear view to a comfortable viewing angle without power or wind resistance, for the weight of a few mirrors. Adjust the mirrors' size/shape to get a good field of view.

    --
    "I don't know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots." George HW Bush