R8 Audi R8 e-tron to feature a digital rear-view mirror

[Tumbo]

Race car tech headed to production

Audi has announced the R8 e-tron will become one the world's first production vehicles to be equipped with a digital rear-view mirror.
Despite sounding unnecessary, the model doesn't have a rear-window so a digital mirror was deemed critical. The system is similar to the one used on the R18 race car and uses a small camera to capture images of what is behind the vehicle. They are sent to a 7.7-inch AMOLED display which is located in the same spot where a conventional rear-view mirror would be.
The display promises to deliver "brilliant" images and can be dimmed or deactivated at any time. Audi is also investigating future uses for the 'mirror', including using it to display additional information.

 

[Kowalski]

What happens if there's another Audi cock tailgating you with his high beams?

 

[purplehenk]

What happens if there's another Audi cock tailgating you with his high beams?

It will be filtered out. Contrast, Lighting etc. will be optimized for a good view.

 

[Kowalski]

It will be filtered out. Contrast, Lighting etc. will be optimized for a good view.

Oh that's good. I can't drive a car without auto dimming rear view mirrors.

 

[Tumbo]

I love the whole idea. But isnt the screen a little to big?

 

[Tumbo]

 

[Monster]

I wonder how will the camera perform at night time.

 

[Centurion]

I wonder how will the camera perform at night time.

I wonder that too. We all know how distracting it can be when you're during at night and the person sitting next to you blast their iPhone on full brightness. My guess is that at nighttime the screen will switch to night vision mode.

The best screen technology for this purpose would be OLED since each individual pixel has its own back light you don't get overly bright and washed out greys and blacks. Besides that the contrasts are amazing meaning that you don't need brightness settings cranked up to tell distinguish colours and objects.

 

[Tumbo]

I am sure the light is different at night. Kind of like your iphone or macbook, that senses how much light you need.

 

[Cashmere]

The AMOLED display is sourced from Samsung and is probably the same one that is used in the galaxy tab 7.7

The car-maker is also working to enable extra information to be displayed on the mirror-replacing screen in the future.
For now, the unusual 7.7-inch AMOLED rear-view mirror with the special camera will only be featured in the new R8 e-tron, but the company says that as the technology advances and becomes cheaper, it will find its place in the rest of the company’s vehicles.

Not long to go before cameras eventually replace mirrors all together.

 

[Centurion]

The AMOLED display is sourced from Samsung and is probably the same one that is used in the galaxy tab 7.7

Just like I guessed, OLED technology.