Friday, June 15, 2012

SAFER DRIVING


A Side View Mirror Without Blind Spots
By Bill Weir, C. Michael Kim, David Miller, Justin Bare & Mark Monroy | This Could Be Big 
A car's blind spot is one of life's accepted inconveniences. Check your mirror, lean forward, look over your shoulder and change lanes. That is standard operating procedure.
But a math professor from Drexel University in Philadelphia named Andrew Hicks has designed a curved mirror that eliminates most of that blind spot, using a mathematic algorithm that increases your field of view from the current standard of 15 to 17 degrees to an astonishing 45 degrees without distorting the image.
To achieve the design without the fun-house or fish-eye effect, Professor Hicks's patented design is similar to a disco ball with tiny individual mirrors precisely directed using his algorithm, so that each ray of light bouncing off the mirror shows a wide yet undistorted view.
But don't expect the newest car designs to roll off the production line with these mirrors just yet. At this point, manufacturers are still required to install side view mirrors that are flat, due to issues with distortion. But Prof. Hick's just received his patent so it may take some time for the rules to catch up. Until then, you will most likely first see the mirrors in after market car part stores where curved mirrors are allowed to be sold. And don't be alarmed - while the prototype cost an exorbitant $20,000, expanded manufacturing will greatly reduce the cost for consumers.
Peter’s Comment
Mirrors have been a problem on cars for as long cars have had mirrors. Mirrors have been the forgotten area of automobile development and yet mirrors, or the lack of a view from them, have probably been a factor in as many fatalities as tires, brakes, steering, speed and alcohol.
I welcome the above development but there is still so much more that can be done to improve visibility from the driver’s seat. Mirrors would work better if mounted inside the vehicle rather than outside where they are subject rain, frost, or simply being knocked by other vehicles or pedestrians. If the mirror was mounted inside an external bubble with a rearward view some of the problems would disappear.
Highway America
The front door post is another source of blind spots and while it may be a relatively small blind spot most are capable of completely obscuring a cyclist ten meters away. There must be a see-through material, as strong as steel, that door posts could be made from and if not there must be a scientist somewhere capable of developing one.
Ultimately, drivers will probably have an uninterrupted 360 degree view from the driver’s seat using a row of monitors in the middle of the instrument panel and wide-angle cameras at strategic points around the vehicle. No more blind spots.
Meanwhile, we still have mirrors and they need to be clear, correctly adjusted and never mounted at eye level because you also need to be able to look beyond your mirrors. When you look in your side mirrors you should be looking for other vehicles, not the side of your own vehicle. You should have to move your head to be able to see your own vehicle, but only your eyes to see traffic that might be getting too close.
Finally, remember the old saying, “If you can see my mirror, I can see you?” Well, it’s wrong. It should be, “If you can see my eyes in the mirror I may be able to see you.”
Safe driving.


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