Mirrorless cars a reflection of auto industry’s future

From fuel cell vehicles to self-driving cars, new technologies for next-generation autos
are gaining traction.

In a move likely to accelerate this, the United Nations World Forum for Harmonization
of Vehicle Regulations, which consists of major car-producing nations and sets
international safety and environmental standards on vehicles, said in November it will
allow carmakers worldwide to replace side and rear mirrors with camera monitor
systems.

Following the U.N. panel’s decision, the transport ministry will from June allow
mirrorless cars on to the nation’s roads.

Following are questions and answers about the mirrorless system, which could be the
new standard for vehicles in the near future:

What is a mirrorless car?

A mirrorless car does not have rear-view and side-view mirrors.

Instead, the car is equipped with a sophisticated camera monitor system that shows
drivers surrounding views on small screens positioned in front of them.

Although the concept itself isn’t necessarily new, because some automakers already
equip vehicles with cameras and monitors to show what is around a car, mirrors are still
required under current regulations.

What are the advantages of mirrorless cars?

Replacing mirrors with vehicle proximity cameras is said to enhance safety because
unlike current rearview mirrors, they eliminate blind spots, transport ministry official
Masaru Miyashita said.

The mirrorless system also allows drivers to use advanced imaging technology,
including night vision and wide angle cameras.

Miyashita said it is hoped that mirrorless cars will be a step toward practical use of
next-generation auto technologies, including self-driving cars.

“If the camera and monitor system becomes fully developed, things like operating a
self-driving long-distance truck remotely from home could be possible,” he said.

Moving to mirrorless systems will also allow automakers to become more creative with
car designs.

Unlike mirrors that have to be strategically positioned for drivers, cameras can be
located anywhere on a vehicle, said Yuri Iwata, a spokeswoman for auto parts maker
Denso Corp., which develops camera monitor systems for vehicles.

“Mirrorless cars may allow automobile manufacturers to produce a vehicle with

futuristic, unconventional designs that now are only concept cars shown at motor
shows,” Iwata said.

Design flexibility would allow carmakers to improve vehicle aerodynamics, thus

producing better fuel efficiency at high speeds and leading to more streamlined buses
and large trucks, she said.

Will changes come suddenly with deregulation?

No. Drivers will need time to adjust their habits to accommodate the mirrorless system,
Miyashita of the transport ministry said.

At first, monitors and the cameras must be positioned in the same place as current
rear-view and side-view mirrors and offer the same views, he said.

“Getting used to (monitors instead of mirrors) is the main factor to ensure drivers’
safety,” he said.

How are things progressing?

The technology behind the camera monitor system is already established and ready to
enter the market, Denso’s Iwata said.

“In terms of safety, (the camera monitor system) is already good enough to detect
such objects as cars, bicycles and pedestrians; drivers can comprehend surrounding
circumstances without problems,” she said.

Some automobile companies have already shown off mirrorless technologies as

concept cars at international exhibitions.

German automaker BMW, for one, demonstrated its next-generation BMW i8 Mirrorless
at the Consumer Electronic Show 2016 held at Las Vegas in January.

Instead of mirrors, the BMW i8 Mirrorless boasts two slim, wing-like side cameras on
each side of the car as well as a third camera placed inside the rear window. The
surrounding views are displayed on monitors attached on the windshield, where the
rear-view mirror is usually located.

“The display technology is the most challenging component. The development gets
more complex to provide sophisticated features,” a spokesman for BMW said via email.

What hurdles remain for widespread use of mirrorless cars?

Unlike mirror images, the mirrorless system has yet to accurately reproduce colors on
the monitor, Denso’s Iwata said.

“Although (color accuracy) does not affect safety . . . we believe it will affect the
commercial value of products,” she said.

Another challenge is maintaining the basic functionality of conventional cars while

pursuing unconventional designs, she said, pointing out that side mirrors have been
used by drivers to gauge the width of their cars.

Another concern is how to ensure safety if a monitor malfunctions, Miyashita of the

transport ministry said.

“When the system is completely broken, drivers may be able to tell because nothing
would be shown on the monitors. But the challenge is how to warn drivers when there
is a slight delay in images — like when a monitor doesn’t immediately show what is
present,” he said.