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Super seeing speculation! Porsche developing night vision system?
The Deutsch-obsessed purveyors of the German Car Scene got a tip that Porsche is in the process of developing a night vision system, ala the Merc S-class, that will likely debut when the 997 undergoes a facelift sometime in 2007.
The picture above is what fueled the speculation, with what's assumed to be a set of infrared projector beams mounted within the headlamp. Said beams would exchange information with a camera mounted on the windshield, then project the enhanced image onto a screen.
We're less than convinced that this is the case, not just because a digital dash would have to be adopted by the guys and gals of Stuttgart, but because it seems contrary to the Porsche edict of over-engineered, gimmickless motoring.
Thanks for the tip, Mike!
[Source: German Car Scene]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jon F. 9:01AM (12/05/2006)
After seeing Lexus' success with the self-parking car, Porsche is developing a car that will race itself! It's starting with self-autocrossing Boxsters, and moving up to self endurance racing GT3 RSRs.
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Kansei 9:09AM (12/05/2006)
haha nice jon.
Yeah here's hoping that at least one German marque can keep it (relatively) simple. Night vision, ugh. The only way it wouldn't be obtrusive would be if if was just a light on the dash or a voice message that said "omg a deer, hit the brakes you noob!". If there's a moose in the middle of the road a mile away, I want to know about it, but I don't need to see it on my navi screen.. because while I sit there looking at the navi a deer could jump out and ruin a fine evening drive.
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Disco Stu 10:28AM (12/05/2006)
Perhaps they could have a heads-up display? Those could definately be sensors for night-vision. The S Class has a similar setup.
Stu
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jeff 12:26PM (12/05/2006)
It strikes me as odd that these two circled modules are not symmetrical like the rest of the headlight parts. Makes me think that photoshop was used in the "development" of this part.
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Robert Guernsey 5:26AM (1/26/2007)
Jeff, that struck me as odd as well, but the two modules are symmetrical. They are both on the inner and outer edges of the headlamp assembly.
The dark spots probably have more to do with adaptive lighting than they do with night vision. But that's my speculation.
http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2006/12/05/porsche-developing-night-vision-system-for-997/
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BKS 11:49PM (12/05/2006)
Those look remarkably like the beam adjustment markers on my 1998 Boxster. Perhaps that's what they are?
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Porsche lover 8:32PM (12/05/2006)
Don't you guys realise that if it is a projected screen, the head of the driver, the seats, the toys, or the sports chrono meter would cast a shadow? (since they are between the projector and the screen)
It would only be reasonable if it were a LCD screen.
And then again, the LCD screen would need a very fast response speed, and a high resolution, and oh my, such a fast computer so that there is absolutely no lag or slow framerates.
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