What is the Principle of a Car's 360-Degree Panoramic Camera?
3 Answers
The principle of a car's 360-degree panoramic camera: Through four 180-degree wide-angle cameras installed at the front, rear, and both sides of the vehicle, real-time images of each part are recorded. Subsequently, the system processes these images through distortion correction, perspective transformation, and image stitching. The final synthesized panoramic image is displayed in a bird's-eye view on the car's central control screen. A single 360-degree panoramic camera can replace multiple ordinary cameras, achieving seamless monitoring and enabling new monitoring applications across various fields, including banks, social security, public places, and cultural venues.
I heard from a car mechanic that a 360-degree panoramic view system involves installing 4-6 cameras around the car—one each at the front, rear, and sides. These cameras use wide-angle lenses to capture a 180-degree view of the surroundings, but the images appear distorted, like bulging fisheye photos. The car's onboard computer then processes these distorted images using specialized software algorithms to straighten them out and restore their normal shape. Next, all the images are stitched together like a jigsaw puzzle to form a complete bird's-eye view. The most critical part is ensuring the computer accurately calculates the stitching positions; otherwise, the tire alignment won't match the actual car, causing confusion. The system often includes virtual guide lines to help predict turning paths. Remember to clean the camera lenses during car washes—dirt or mud spots can affect image clarity.
I've used several cars equipped with 360-degree cameras, which are particularly helpful for novice drivers when reversing. The principle is quite ingenious: small cameras are installed on the grille, side mirrors, and rear of the vehicle. The wide-angle lenses can cover blind spots, but the images may distort, requiring real-time correction by the processor. The stitching technology is crucial—it must seamlessly merge the four camera feeds without any gaps. When the system displays a virtual bird's-eye view on the screen, dynamic trajectory lines are also overlaid. This feature is a real lifesaver when parking, as it clearly shows curbs and low posts. Remember to activate it before parking, as sudden activation might cause lag. If the image gets blurry in rainy conditions, switch to single-camera mode for better practicality.
