All-round car visibility system: what is this option for?

Good day to all! If you are here, then you are definitely interested in a surround view system for a car.

It is a mistake to think that now you can only buy a car with factory equipment that includes such equipment. In fact, it is also possible to independently install a system capable of displaying what is happening around the vehicle at 360 degrees.

For the first time, such a development was proposed by Nissan engineers. The Japanese, as an option, equipped their cars with cameras that provided the same all-round visibility. Due to this, the parking system received a new round of development.

What is this?

The car's intelligent all-round visibility system is a device consisting of several components. It usually includes four cameras, a selector and a display.

The system calculates the length and width of the car, displaying them on the screen, and depicts the trajectory taking into account the dimensions in the form of several lines. This helps the driver to see his car from the outside and carry out complex maneuvers independently, while minimizing risks.

Cameras

As we have already said, four cameras are most often used in a car's all-round vision system. The first is installed in one of the holes in the radiator grille. She reads the situation in front of the car. The rear view camera is installed in the license plate illumination area. The third and fourth cameras are located on the sides of the viewing mirrors.

Due to the fact that the devices located on the sides are panoramic, the operation of four cameras provides an all-round view of the car, practically devoid of blind spots.

Display

Let us remind you that the display is located in the cabin. It is installed in such a way that the driver can clearly see the image. The display can operate in different modes.

It can show the complete environment around the car or even display a picture of a mounted image of the car and the environment around it. But only expensive systems are capable of this.
It can show images from specific cameras. In this case, the driver selects the device from which the broadcast is required manually.
The system is also usually equipped with a parking mode. When the car starts to go backwards, an image of the optimal trajectory appears on the screen with graphic “sides” that you should not drive over.

Often, parking sensors are simply used to help with parking. However, this system only works when the car is moving at low speed. When it starts driving faster than ten kilometers per hour, the surveillance and sensors automatically go into sleep mode. The modern all-round visibility system works at any speed.

Main advantages

It is really difficult for some motorists to decide on such a purchase, since a set of even the simplest system does not cost that little.

As arguments in favor of installation, it is worth talking about the main advantages of operating a car with an all-round visibility system installed on it. Having such equipment on your car gives you a number of privileges. They are reflected not only in increasing the level of one’s own safety, but also in the ability to protect the life and health of other road users.

By installing such a system, you will receive the following key advantages:

Possibility of obtaining a permanent panoramic image of your vehicle. Thanks to it, it becomes much easier to control the situation from all sides of the car.
Separately, you can monitor and control the situation from separate cameras. In this case, the image will have high quality and clarity.
The process of parking in limited space and in the presence of various kinds of obstacles around is greatly simplified.
In addition to the video image, the display in the cabin displays auxiliary graphic and visual cues, and an audio assistant can be implemented.
Depending on the specific surround view system, you can record and save video similar to a regular DVR. Recording is carried out from each camera separately or from all simultaneously, forming a single video recording.
If an accident or traffic incident occurs, having a video recording everything that happens around you can be an extremely useful and effective tool for proving your own innocence or identifying the culprit of the incident.

In the hands of an experienced auto electrician, installing an all-round view yourself will not be a serious test. But if you have no experience, then you should think about the rationality of trying to install it yourself.

In what situations is such equipment useful?

One gets the impression that such equipment can only be used for parking. However, it is not. The range of applications of such devices is much wider and is not limited to parking alone. So, cameras will also help in the following situations:

When driving through blind intersections. Often, a camera mounted at the level of a car's radiator grill will be able to see much more than the driver. It is capable of ensuring safe passage through intersections with blind spots.
When driving on narrow streets. Often the driver has to stretch out to his full height and look to see if his car is hitting obstacles in the form of cinder blocks, curbs, parking posts or other cars. This system makes driving in narrow areas easier.
Orientation on the road. Some novice drivers are so superficially familiar with the dimensions of their car that they do not know how to pass a hole or other obstacle between the wheels. Often they don't even realize how far they are from other cars or medians. The all-round visibility system will make life much easier for amateur drivers.

Installation recommendations

When everything necessary to install the all-round viewing system has been purchased and assembled, you can begin to work.

At the first stage, you should determine all the places where the cameras will be located.
It is recommended to install the rear camera first. You may need to cut a hole for it on the platform intended for fixing the license plate.
After cutting, sand the area using sandpaper.
The easiest way to fix the camera itself is with glue that is resistant to weathering and temperature changes.
Then the front parking camera is mounted in the radiator grille area. For installation, the same principle applies as with the rear camera.
Then comes the turn of the side cameras. They are mounted in mirrors, and this procedure causes much more difficulties. The mirrors themselves are first dismantled, a hole is made in the body for the camera and fixed in it.
Using door connectors, the wiring is pulled into the interior. After this, the side mirrors return to their place.
The wiring from the rear and front cameras also needs to be routed through the interior. Here you should act based on the design features of a particular car, existing technological holes, etc. You will probably have to remove the trunk trim. In the cabin, it is better to stretch along the floor than along the ceiling. It is important that during operation the driver or passenger does not touch the wires and cannot accidentally damage them.
At the final stage, when the wires are connected to the monitor, the setup is performed. The setup procedure is carried out strictly according to the instructions from the display manufacturer.

Most ready-made kits for all-round viewing provide detailed instructions for connecting, installing and configuring the system.

How to equip the car

Previously, it was impossible to imagine that someone could independently assemble and install such a complex system in a car. It was assumed that it could only be built into the car’s factory equipment and nothing else.

However, everything is changing and today any car enthusiast whose hands grow from the right place can equip their “iron horse” with such a device.

With the help of specialists

In order to equip your car with an all-round visibility system, you can come to a service station that provides the relevant services and contact specialists. This is a reliable option, the only downside of which is the need to pay for the work of the craftsmen.

But the installation of an all-round viewing system can easily be done by the car owner.

How to install a surround view system

If the installation of such a system is not provided by the manufacturer as an option when purchasing a car, the driver can install it independently or with the help of service center specialists. You can find ready-made installation kits on sale, but, if you wish, you can purchase elements separately from each other to save money. To implement a surround view system in a car you will need:

The display is the brain of the system. There are three options for such devices on sale:
A display with a “brain” that can simultaneously process signals from four cameras. This means that the driver will see video from four cameras on the screen at once, thereby completely controlling the situation around the car;
A display with a “brain” capable of displaying information from four cameras, composing it and displaying a 3D panoramic view of the car from above or from a third person (depending on functionality). Such displays allow you to implement a full-fledged system of all-round visibility of the car.
Four cameras. The important thing to note here is that cameras should be different. You will need to install regular parking cameras in front and behind the car, which allow you to display the appropriate parking lines. Their cost is low, and it is better to purchase budget models without additional bells and whistles. Panoramic cameras should be installed on the left and right mirrors, which do not have parking lines, but have a large viewing angle.
Standard tools and consumables for such work: glue, wires, cutting tools, etc.

When all the necessary equipment and tools have been purchased, you can proceed to the process of installing the all-round viewing system. It looks like this:

First of all, we install the rear camera on the car. To do this, cut a small hole in the center of the platform for attaching the license plate. Next, be sure to sand the surface. Install the camera and secure it with glue. Please note that for work you need to choose an adhesive that does not change its properties at different temperatures;
Next, a second camera is installed in the radiator grille at the front of the car using the same principle;
The next step is to install cameras in the mirrors. This procedure is somewhat more complicated than installing front and rear cameras. To install the camera in the side rearview mirror, you will first need to remove it. Next, carefully make holes in the mirror frame for attaching cameras and secure them inside. Pull the cables that come from the cameras through the door connectors and install the mirror back on the car. This must be done with both side mirrors;
After this, you will need to run wires from all cameras to the “brain” of the system and the display;
The final step is setting up the system. Depending on which monitor model you choose, as well as the processor installed inside, the instructions for setting up the system will vary. Please read the instructions included with the device to ensure correct setup.

Having completed the steps described above, the installation of the car's all-round visibility system can be considered complete. After this, you will be able to see what is happening around the car when parking, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to the body due to unsuccessful maneuvering.

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Self-installation

First, you will have to buy all the necessary electronics.

Purchases

First of all, select the “processor” with display.

If you are going to save money, you can buy a selector for four cameras. It will display an image of only one of them. You can select a broadcasting device using the remote control.

You can also purchase a digital video recorder for cars - station wagon. It will display images from four cameras simultaneously on the display.

But the pinnacle of digital thought are expensive but functional video recorders that are capable of editing four images into one panoramic one and at the same time placing an image of a car in the environment so that the driver can control it as if from a third person.

Next, purchase cameras.

For front and rear installation, regular cameras for cars that have parking lines are suitable. They are not very expensive; it makes no sense to buy “sophisticated” devices for these purposes.

To install on mirrors, you will need special panoramic cameras. They don't need parking lines. All that matters is a large viewing angle. They will cost a little more.

Installation Features

Objectively, one rear view camera is inferior in functionality and safety to a full-fledged all-round car vision system. Therefore, more and more often, car owners are thinking about re-equipping their car and switching to a more advanced control scheme.

Nowadays, buying a complete set of all-round viewing on Aliexpress or in other stores is not a problem. And the price is quite reasonable. The main thing is that the components are of good enough quality and that the connections are made correctly.

To connect the all-round view, you need to purchase 3 components:

smart display, that is, a screen with brains;
at least 4 cameras;
wiring kit

Plus you will need a standard set of tools, glue, cutting tools, etc.

As for displays, there are several options:

Selector for cameras. It alternately displays images from different cameras. The driver can choose which camera to activate. But here we don’t have to talk about a full-fledged all-round view;
Display with the function of simultaneous processing of data from 4 cameras. In this case, video from all cameras is displayed on the screen at once;
A screen displaying 4 cameras, composing and displaying the car in the form of a 3D panorama. These displays are considered full-fledged all-round viewing systems.

If we talk about cameras, then in front and behind you need regular parking devices. They're pretty cheap. Moreover, it is better to take simple options without unnecessary functions and show-offs. And on the left and right sides we need panoramic cameras with a wide viewing angle.

What machines can it be installed on?

Some motorists who own inexpensive or fairly old cars strongly doubt whether they will be able to install such equipment. And you really need to figure out which cars can have a modern all-round visibility system installed on them.

There are no serious restrictions in this regard. In theory, the equipment can be mounted on any vehicle, regardless of its type, make, model or year of manufacture. The only caveat is the mandatory presence of a multimedia or navigation system with a large display. But monitors can also be purchased separately.

Yes, the equipment will not work or cannot function normally if there are problems with the electrical wiring on the machine, short circuits appear, breaks occur, etc. By connecting the system to such wiring, sensors and cameras can quickly fail. And since the price of even a simple kit is far from small, it is much easier and cheaper to first bring the car’s electrical wiring into proper condition, and only then connect the cameras and display.