One day in the near future, there will be no need for mirrors on commercial trucks because there may not be drivers to look in them. But until that day, mirrors remain an essential part of the safety equation for truck drivers.
However, like everything else, companies are using technology to change that. So-called “mirrorless trucks” are already on the highways being tested, and the camera technology being used could replace mirrors in the very near future, causing drivers to turn to video screens rather than physical mirrors.
The impact on insurance premiums is unknown. Several commentators pointed out at the recent unveiling of Nikola Motor’s hydrogen-electric truck, which is designed without mirrors, that it will take some time for insurance companies to evaluate it because there is not enough safety data available yet to determine the value.
“There are no outside mirrors,” Jason Ruecht, vice president of commercial vehicles for Bosch, which supplies the camera system for the Nikola truck, said proudly at the event. “We like this from an aerodynamic perspective. We like it from a safety perspective.
The Bosch system eliminates sunlight reflection and allows for nighttime enhancement, both of which improve overall visibility, Roecht said. “There is a lot of innovation (possible) around these cameras,” added Trevor Milton, co-founder and CEO of Nikola Motor Company.
Bosch isn’t the only company working on camera systems designed to replace mirrors. Stoneridge (NYSE: SRI) was one of the early supporters of this technology with its MirrorEye system.
“We remain well-positioned to commercialize MirrorEye in the retrofit market with broader deployments with our shipping partners expected in the second and third quarters of this year,” John D. Gaynor, Stoneridge’s president and CEO, said during his company’s second-quarter earnings call. May 2, 2019. “In addition, we expect to make a decision on OEM (original equipment manufacturer) sourcing in the second quarter with two other decisions to be made by the end of the year or early next year. We remain optimistic regarding our OEM endeavors and will provide updates as decisions are made.
Earlier this year, at a Technology and Maintenance Council meeting in Atlanta, the organization’s Cab and Control Study Group asked for industry input from fleets and drivers using these systems.
Current law requires two outside mirrors that show the driver both sides of a commercial truck. However, as most drivers know, that leaves blind spots, which manufacturers of these camera systems believe can be eliminated.
Stoneridge explained the MirrorEye system in detail when applying in 2018 for an exemption to exterior mirror requirements from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
“The MirrorEye CMS system consists of several digital cameras mounted on the outside of the CMV and surrounded by an aerodynamic package that provides environmental protection for the cameras and a mounting location for optimal viewing. Each camera has video processing software that presents a clear, high-definition image to the driver via a monitor mounted on each pillar A in the CMV, i.e. the structural member between the windshield and the cab door The company explains that attaching the screens to the A-pillars avoids the creation of additional blind spots while eliminating the blind spots associated with conventional mirrors.
The FMCSA approved a five-year exemption for MirrorEye in late December 2018.
Stoneridge touts a 25 percent greater field of view for the system compared to traditional mirrors. The system uses independent video processing for multiple camera images, so that other camera images continue to be displayed if a single camera fails. This ensures real-time images are displayed continuously without interruption. The use of high-definition digital cameras provides color night vision, low-light sensitivity and trailer moving capabilities. This helps with night driving, working under other low-light conditions, and reduces glare.
“Stoneridge also believes that the use of its CMS may help reduce driver fatigue by requiring less head movement by drivers compared to the number of head movements required to use traditional mirrors,” the company said.
The MirrorEye system features a 12.3-inch high-definition display on the driver’s left and a 15-inch display on the right. There is another display screen in the top center of the window, giving the driver a full view through up to six cameras mounted on the car.
Other manufacturers are testing camera systems instead of mirrors, but the question remains how robust, reliable and durable are these systems when operating in the real world? Stoneridge and Bosch will start to find out this year as the Stoneridge system will hit the roads with test fleets and Bosch is currently testing its system in Europe.
Once these questions are answered, it will be up to insurers to determine how valuable these systems are and whether rebates will follow.
