Ficosa develops innovative digital rearview system for Audi e-tron

Ficosa, the Tier 1 global supplier which makes and supplies high-technology vision, safety, connectivity and efficiency systems for the automotive and mobility sectors, has revealed that it has partnered Audi to launch, within the upcoming Audi e-tron model, the first-ever digital rearview system that will hit the European market. The Audi e-tron is expected to hit the European market in late 2018. Audi is expected to launch the all-electric e-tron in India by end-2019.

This ground-breaking vision system developed by Ficosa, also known as CMS (Camera Monitoring System), is made up of cameras and displays that replace the traditional external side mirrors, providing a new driving experience that is safer, more efficient and more comfortable. This vision system is comprised of two cameras, integrated into the sides of the car’s chassis, and two tactile displays inside the doors.

According to Javier Pujol, CEO of Ficosa: “Rearview systems are Ficosa's core business, so being the first to launch a CMS to the European market is a turning point in our technological transformation process. In this way, we've not only proven our ability to take advantage of our know-how in vision but we've also blazed the trail, being the first to reach this accomplishment that will revolutionise the automotive industry. It is an honour for Ficosa that Audi has trusted our expertise in vision to develop and manufacture this solution”.

Safer, more efficient and more comfortable driving
Through this vision system, the cameras – which are attached to the vehicle using folding wings – send a very low-latency image signal to the two tactile 7-inch OLED displays inside the vehicle. Thanks to the tactile display, users will be able to manually adjust the cameras.

The digital rearview mirror also significantly improves the driving experience and safety of the vehicle, offering users multiple advantages such as a broader field of vision, no blind spots, more efficient fuel use by improving the vehicle's aerodynamics, no glare and better night-time vision, among others.

The system also includes advanced functions like automatic camera calibration to properly adapt to any situation or warnings that appear dynamically over the image to give the driver information, such as alerts of other vehicles nearby before overtaking. Furthermore, the CMS also enables the detection of anything that could obstruct the system or get it dirty.

The cameras also come with high dynamic range (HDR) sensor with LED flicker mitigation technology developed by Omnivision Technologies. This sensor mitigates flickering to ensure outstanding image quality under any lighting or temperature conditions.

CMS also transforms the current image of the cars, changing the appearance of the inside and outside of the vehicle and offering up new design options.

Made in Spain and Germany
The digital rearview system has been developed by Ficosa’s ADAS Business Unit and is manufactured at the Viladecavalls Technology Centre (Spain), while the wings supporting the cameras on the outside of the vehicle have been manufactured at the Wolfenbüttel Centre (Germany). More than 90 engineers specialised in fields like optics, software and hardware, have worked on the CMS project.

Javier Pujol added, "Launching the first CMS entails recognition of the huge effort the whole team at the company has made to lead the transformation of the automobile in e-mobility, connected and autonomous cars. This achievement also reaffirms our commitment to bringing the car of the future to today."