Does 360-degree Surround View Have a Dashcam Function?
2 Answers
360-degree surround view does not have a dashcam function. Here are the relevant details: Reasons why 360-degree surround view lacks a dashcam function: 360-degree surround view and dashcams are not inherently incompatible for integration. However, automakers often omit the dashcam function from 360-degree surround view systems to reduce costs. Differences between 360-degree surround view and dashcams: 360-degree surround view uses multiple cameras installed around the vehicle to provide real-time views of the surrounding road conditions, primarily assisting with parking maneuvers. This helps avoid collisions with other vehicles or obstacles in blind spots during reversing, preventing financial losses. A dashcam is a device that continuously records driving conditions and audio. In the event of a traffic accident, the recorded footage can be replayed as evidence for traffic police to determine liability.
This is a topic I often get asked by friends, and it really depends on the specific car model's design. I've driven three cars with 360-degree surround view systems, and only one of them had a built-in dashcam feature. Most manufacturers tend to omit this function because the 360-degree imaging system itself already requires processing four video streams simultaneously, which is quite demanding on the hardware. Adding continuous recording would pose additional challenges for the processor and cooling system. However, newer electric vehicles often come with more generous configurations. For example, some domestic brands allow the use of front and rear cameras as dashcams, with recorded videos featuring fisheye distortion correction. To check if your car has this feature, simply browse through the image settings menu on the central control screen. If it's not there, don't bother trying to hack it—installing a professional dashcam is a more reliable solution.