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I'm not sure if you're just referring to RVs or vehicles in general, but I was in Hamburg yesterday and came across a VW XL1 in the wild. As you can see, it's definitely only using cameras in place of mirrors. However, as far as I know, there are no plans to bring the XL1 to the states (and perhaps the EU has looser restrictions on these types of things).
All of snapshots that I've looked on on the Wayback Machine show it without mirrors, although the pages are badly mangled. For example (from November):
Model X | Tesla Motors
Not sure now. Anyway, the prototype I saw in LA looked like this
2015 Tesla Model X Will Have All-Wheel Drive Only, Company Confirms
I remember surfing the Model X page about a month ago and distinctly remembering it had side mirrors.
I don't think them changing all the pics to cameras is a glitch.
Yeah, I agree, they definitely added mirrors to the prototype at some point. I just don't remember the website ever reflecting that.
Debbie downer: I kinda miss the mirrors. They looked fine and I'm honestly a little worried about how well camera only will work in person. Time will tell I guess.
bonnie
I play a nice person on twitter.
We'll get you the retro version with mirrors, big guy. I'm going for the Hello Kitty version with cameras.
Nubo
Test Mule
Hmm... any other subtle differences that might identify this as a newer version of the design, compared to previous sans-mirror images?
Just because I went to the trouble of asking, here's what I was told recently at two different Tesla stores:
store #1 in November, "Side view cameras will be on the Model X"
store #2 in January, "Side view cameras will NOT be on the Model X"
I hope we get them. My cars are so primitive, I want to take the biggest possible leap forward with this one! ML
store #1 in November, "Side view cameras will be on the Model X"
store #2 in January, "Side view cameras will NOT be on the Model X"
I hope we get them. My cars are so primitive, I want to take the biggest possible leap forward with this one! ML
I'm wondering why, if they are going to the replace mirrors with cameras, they are leaving them in the same place. That may be optimal for mirrors, but why so for cameras (which have different optics and fields of view). Sure, if they stick out, you get a couple of extra degrees of view into the rear behind the car, but with a decent rear view mirror and/or camera that doesn't seem much help.
I would have thought moving them forward would be better for blind spot detection. Also, coupled with front and rear cameras, that could generate a near 360 degree field of view for parking.
I would have thought moving them forward would be better for blind spot detection. Also, coupled with front and rear cameras, that could generate a near 360 degree field of view for parking.
The image captured by the camera needs to have the same perspective as the traditional mirror. If it doesn't, it will be confusing to the driver and inherently unsafe. Around-View cameras and Blind-Spot Monitoring systems can use cameras mounted in different locations because they are not directly replacing the function of the mirror.
Ok, but the perspective of mirrors varies dramatically depending on things like type of mirror, angle, tilt, how far forward the driver's seat is, etc. A camera is going to be different than a mirror (no matter where it is placed).
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Well, advancing the design without knowing whether you have a mirror or camera is probably easiest if you remove the location variable and accept that they'll be in the same spot. That location also is natural for drivers when understanding the width of their car and is also where the car has typically already curved back in some - you wouldn't want to mount these where they stick out more and might get whacked off. And finally, like winglets on jets, they probably are actually beneficial in breaking up vortices coming off the intersection of the hood, windshield, and quarter panel (just guessing here).
