Panorama view - multiple cameras

iss407 · 08-19-2009, 02:07 PM

I want to replace my side mirrors with small cameras in an effort to reduce aerodynamic drag. Many new concept cars include this. I've contacted my local authorities and it seems it would be legal. If not I belive a tiny little mirror on the driver's side would meet the minium requirements and still remove most of the drag. I'd want to hard wire the cameras in front of the doors so I don't have to route cables through the doors. The display(s) can be anywhere the driver is most comfortable with. I would put mine on either side of the rear-view mirror, which I would likely replace with a camera as well.

That gave me the idea of stiching all three camera images together in software like the street view in google maps. I could even add a couple extra side cameras that point almost straight sideways. Add a forward camera and I'd have a 360 degree panorama. With cheap data storage available today it would be possible to store a complete visual record of everywhere the car goes. It would be great evidence when some idiot runs a red light. Store GPS info and I could have a complete record. I've also thought that some computer image recognition software could track the cars around me and provide real-time status at a glance.

Is this possible? PCs have plenty of computing power today. I'd love to be able to use low-cost USB webcams.

Thanks for your feedback.

-- Paul

marteline · 08-19-2009, 02:51 PM

reduce aerodynamic drag?? what you are driving? A f-22 at Mach 1? LoL

soundman98 · 08-19-2009, 03:40 PM

as of now, i have not seen any computer software that would do this, but would love to do something very similar if it was availible.

the closest i have seen is this monitor:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_707VTM7...-VTM7000Q.html

although i have not seen it installed, it supposedly has a feature to change screens based on your turn signals--left blinker-left side camera, etc.

i know that it might not be what you are looking for, but it is the closest i have found so far(i would also like to do something like this, but also include a front camera, and a gps speed/location overlay).

iss407 · 08-19-2009, 04:31 PM

I am currently getting about 40 MPG on my new Honda Fit (EPA Hwy is 33). Just removing the mirrors could net me about 2 MPG more or so. Hypermiling is all the rage now. It is kind of fun. It redirects my inner geek/gearhead who used to think about 0-60 times and cornering force to something greener. I drive about 100 miles a day to/from work on average, so improved mileage add$ up. I'm sure I'll spend more on mods than I gain, but it's the fun and the challange more than the money, right?

soundman98 · 08-19-2009, 05:31 PM

the side view mirror do not make up that much of a drag, it would be more beneficial to remove most of your interior.

iss407 · 08-19-2009, 05:45 PM

The benefit of removing the mirrors varies with the vehicle. On an average car getting 25-30 MPG there will not be that much of a difference. On a subcompact like my Fit that is designed to be very aerodynamic the benefit will be greater. The mirrors are the same size, but the frontal area of my car is less and they make for a larger percentage of the drag.

I just got the car two weeks ago and I'm keeping very accurate records of my mileage. I'll remove the right side mirror as an experiment soon. It is legal to have only one mirror, just not real smart. I'll try it for a couple of tanks and see if I can tell any difference. Remove the other mirror will double the result.

Right now I'm trying to figure out if my latest increase in mileage is from using 100% gas with no ethanol. E10 drops mileage about 3-4%. Here in Iowa/Illinois it is hard to find gas without ethanol; big corn states. I don't think the pumps are labeled correctly most of the time.

After I have tackled the ethanol issue I am going to see what increasing the pressure in my tires to max sidewall will do.

84RegalRider · 08-20-2009, 03:48 AM

ah Hypermiling. taking all the fun out of driving, but to each there own.

I would start removing everything in the interior.

Also take out as much electrical as you can. (more electricity u need the more draw on the engine). So radio out, inner lights, airbags(might be illegal but they will never know), change the brake lights to leds if they not already.

When you fill your tires fill them with Nitrogen instead. Its lighter meaning less rolling mass.

Lose some weight if you can.

Do all that and i say you can get a good 5-15 mpg more

pRoFiT · 08-20-2009, 04:40 AM

since everyone got off the subject. I would like to see a panaramic camera view as well. how hard would it be to take say 3 usb cameras and make them stitch together? i know my cell phone can do it with photos. shouldn't be too difficult for a computer to do streaming video? You may have a delay though. That would be bad...maybe you could just have software adjust the three views based on one set of images and then stitch the display the video based on some type of mask......like the overlapping parts could be replaced with pink mask and then the center could be the main image with the left and right overlaying on it? if that makes sense? maybe i will pick up three usb cameras to play with

or a capture card with 3 inputs.......

iss407 · 08-20-2009, 07:27 AM

Since the camera locations are fixed the computer wouldn't need to stitch them together every time. It would build a translation routine that would take the input feeds and put them together the same way every time. Much faster. The delay could be reduced to one frame if done right, negligible. Programming it would not be trivial though and it would have to be "recalibrated" if any of the cameras moved, even a little.

Just placing the images side by side would be a start. It would take a little getting used to but it would work.

SjLucky · 08-20-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by iss407

it would have to be "recalibrated" if any of the cameras moved,

Maybe Im retarded or I missed the point but I dont get it. Why would you need to recalibrate it at all? Why not just split your screen and give one camera a res of 320x480 and the second a res 320x480 (I used 640x480 as an example). Isn't there hardware that does this already?

This is a cool idea but the reasoning behind seems like jacking off... jmo...

iss407 · 08-20-2009, 03:12 PM

The cameras will be in different locations with different angles. Objects moving from camera to camera will change abruptly switching from one to another. Finding a "map" of each camera's view in the real world will allow a computer to build a translation that "warps" the different views into something closer to what the real view is. The more cameras the more natural the view. I don't need anything super realistic but it would be nice for a car to move smoothly from camera to camera. Since the cameras will be seperated by a big distance objects close to the car will be tricky.

The ultimate would be 8 cameras: one for each side and one for each corner. Overkill for sure, but it would be cool.

Dluvr22 · 08-21-2009, 12:37 AM

Thought I'd steer you in the right directio to start.
this is a multi view rearview mirror that allows 1,2, or 3 video sources on a rearview mirror monitor. 200 buck plus free shipping and you cannot beat that

http://www.eonon.com/Mirror-Monitor/E1072.html

theBeachBoy · 08-21-2009, 12:56 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 84RegalRider

ah Hypermiling. taking all the fun out of driving, but to each there own.

I would start removing everything in the interior.

Also take out as much electrical as you can. (more electricity u need the more draw on the engine). So radio out, inner lights, airbags(might be illegal but they will never know), change the brake lights to leds if they not already.

When you fill your tires fill them with Nitrogen instead. Its lighter meaning less rolling mass.

Lose some weight if you can.

Do all that and i say you can get a good 5-15 mpg more

get super ridiculously tow friction tires (that are also super dangerous IMO), fill them at very high pressure. make them flat with ultra lightweight wheels (i.e. no branches, only a flat disc)

make your complete underbody flat

these 3 will yield more than anything else

oh and of course if you drive 0-60 in like 5 minutes and coast for 3 miles before arriving at a stop to annoy the hell out of everyone.

theBeachBoy · 08-21-2009, 12:58 AM

oh and to help on your initial question:

Multiple Video Feeds Via Ethernet on computer display on Vimeo

Close

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

not sure if that could work

84RegalRider · 08-21-2009, 04:44 AM

Its kinda funny to see someone asking a question who is only worried about getting from point A to point B as cheaply as possible on a forum where its about having more fun getting from point A to point B and enjoying the wait at point B.

If you really want to Hypermile go make an electric car for daily driving and then use your fit for longer distances.

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