Conti Camera Offers 360° View for Parking Assist

Continental AG has unveiled a prototype system that uses four cameras to give drivers a 360 view of their car's surroundings during parking maneuvers. Conti says its technology can be used to control low-speed automatic braking and self-parking capabilities.

The company's research indicates almost 50% of all vehicle crashes involve parking and low-speed maneuvering most of them occurring while backing up.

Conti's surround-view system looks and acts on what it sees.

Conti notes that existing fish-eye-based cameras can provide drivers with a bird's eye perspective of objects around their cars. But such systems rely entirely upon the driver to interpret the image and control the vehicle.

Conti's surround-view system can classify objects and intervene automatically to avoid unwanted contact. The feature monitors surroundings with a camera in the front grille, another at the rear and one each in the base of the two outside rearview mirrors. Each camera has a horizontal view of more than 180 and a relatively long range of about 15 meters (49 feet).

Conti's cameras can recognize markings and classify objects such as pedestrians or cyclists. The system also recognizes objects that obstruct the vehicle's ability to maneuver.