Instead of the rear-view mirror, the driver has two monitors with organic light emitting diodes orientated in the usual viewing directions and displaying what is happening at the rear and sides of the vehicle. In addition to giving the driver a wider field of vision, the system is said to eliminate glare, provides traffic situation detection with driver assistance functions, is much less susceptible to dirt and dust, would make damaged wing mirrors a thing of the past and gives drivers better vision in poor light and rain. Other benefits include improved vehicle fuel consumption due to less wind resistance plus reduced wind noise.

“The camera monitor system can also create more benefits for the driver than just mirror replacement,” said Marc Simon, project leader for Mirror Replacement in the Chassis & Safety Division’s Advanced Engineering department.

Unlike conventional mirrors, digital mirrors could also ensure a real improvement in traffic management thanks to the use of mono-camera-based object recognition and classification as a basis for advanced driver assistance systems functions. Critical vehicles, speeds and distances are displayed on the monitor at dusk and at high speeds, for example, which enables the driver to make decisions about manoeuvres more easily.

The firm said that if the approval of these camera-monitor systems goes through as planned in 2016, the systems could already be in use in vehicles starting in 2018.