Vantrue unveils world’s first dash cam with thermal imaging for Predator-style night vision on the move
- Pilot 2 consists of three cameras and a touchscreen
- Thermal camera works in low light and bad weather conditions
- Similar technology will soon be available for motorcyclists
Vantrue chose the bustling halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center to showcase its latest – and arguably smartest – set of dash cams yet.
Dubbed Pilot 2, this collection of front, rear, and thermal imaging cameras offers arguably one of the most comprehensive fields of view of any aftermarket dash camera system on sale.
The Sony Starvis-powered front windshield camera, which actually consists of two lenses, records the action in the cabin in 1080p; it’s a boon for professional drivers who want hard evidence of rowdy passengers.
A secondary front-facing 2K camera then records the action from the front windshield at 1440p, while a windshield-mounted rear camera covers events from the rear in the same resolution. But what makes this package different is the surprisingly compact thermal camera designed to be mounted on the exterior of the vehicle.
Not much bigger than a box of matches, but IP67 waterproof. The dinky unit can be mounted on the hood just below the windshield, or neatly stored in the grille. Vantrue offers various methods to get it in the ideal position.
This then sends a live thermal stream to an included 6.25-inch touchscreen that can be mounted on the dashboard, acting as a media hub for all the different views and recordings being made.
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In low light or poor weather conditions, drivers can rearrange the display to only show the thermal camera feed, which can detect the heat signatures of humans, wildlife and other road users.
The intelligent thermal module also uses Vantrue’s detection algorithms to highlight anything it believes could be a potential hazard on the road.
Yi Mei, the company’s marketing manager, told me at the Vantrue booth at CES that the system can detect a heat signature up to 200 feet away.
Using proprietary software, the screen will highlight what it considers to be a potential danger, track its movements, then send audible warnings if it believes the driver needs to brake hard.
“When you’re driving in fog, at night, or in very heavy rain, sometimes it’s impossible to see what’s going on in front of you, but a thermal camera will see regardless of the conditions,” Yi says.
CarPlay and motorcycles
Vantrue’s marketing manager says the Pilot 2 package will cost around $600 when it goes on sale later this year, adding that a Kickstarter campaign will begin soon and early adopters will receive the product for around $450.
Although pricey, Vantrue hopes to sweeten the deal with the fact that its 6.25-inch touchscreen also serves as a replacement for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For anyone driving an older car with an outdated or non-existent infotainment setup, this could be a huge benefit. Additionally, the small screen features a built-in speaker, but also houses an auxiliary slot for wiring an existing audio system.
Vantrue has big plans for its thermal imaging technology, with Yi explaining that a very similar system will soon be available for motorcyclists. The Falcon 2, like its title, consists of similar but ultra-compact 2K resolution front and rear cameras, specifically designed to be mounted on the body of a motorcycle.
On top of that, the company is fine-tuning its digital cockpit which will be attached to the handlebars, featuring a separate remote control for easy operation with gloved hands.
It also works with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so drivers can add wireless headphones to enjoy audio on the go and use voice commands to interact with the system.
There’s no word yet on pricing for the Falcon 2, but the company says it will arrive in the third quarter of this year, with the announcement that it will be the first company to also offer a wireless tire pressure monitoring system that can be installed on any vehicle, two or four wheelers, which will then work well with the Falcon 2 and Pilot 2 packages.
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