Digital Rearview Mirrors: Engineering Challenges & Solutions for Automotive OEMs

Written by Zsolt Borsi

March 1, 2025

rearview mirror
Automotive manufacturers are rapidly eliminating traditional side mirrors in favour of digital rearview mirrors and equivalent systems. These digital mirrors greatly enhance consumer safety by greatly reducing blind spots that are almost eliminated compared to the side mirrors they replace. They also improve the drag coefficient of the car, i.e., they make it more aerodynamic. The drag coefficient is a measure of how aerodynamically efficient a vehicle is, with lower numbers indicating better performance (implying that the numbers get smaller as the design pushes the limits of what is physically possible). Safer, more efficient vehicles with better fuel economy (and electric vehicles that have a better range) are just better for society in general, aren’t they?

The Shift from Traditional to Digital Rearview Mirrors

There are multiple reasons driving the adoption of digital rearview mirrors:

 

  • Compliance with laws: The global laws that affect the adoption of digital mirrors, like the UN’s ECE R46, are permissive; they allow for the use of camera-based systems.
  • Safety: Compared with traditional mirrors, camera-based systems provide significantly better image quality, and the better the image, the safer the system.
  • Improved aerodynamics: Digital mirrors reduce drag. Reduced drag is good for electric range; it’s also good for fuel efficiency in traditional ICE vehicles. (source used)
    Automakers like Audi and Lexus and Cadillac are the first to adopt camera-based systems in their flagship vehicles.

Key Engineering Challenges in Digital Rearview Mirror Integration

digital rearview mirror

Optical & Display Performance

  • To achieve the kind of visibility required in all lighting conditions, high-resolution cameras are a must.
  • Help with glare reduction and handling extreme contrasts such as in high dynamic range (HDR) imaging, which is essential for clear nighttime visibility.

Camera Placement & Aerodynamics

  • Wind resistance is an obvious factor when considering camera placement in a moving vehicle, but a zero-drag design can also maximize the field of view.
  • A streamlined housing design can also help manufacturers meet various regulatory requirements related to size, shape, and even placement.

Reliability & Durability

  • Ensuring that the equipment can withstand the rigors of rain, snow, and extreme temperature fluctuations.
  • To prevent images from becoming distorted when driving in rough conditions, the new projector must be resistant to vibration.

Power Consumption & Electronic Integration

  • Using energy-efficient processors is a really good idea when you’re designing for an application where the power draw from the main supply needs to be shared around.

Driver Adaptation & Safety

  • Easy-to-use interfaces between humans and machines.
  • Decrease of motion sickness arising from display lag or mismatched depth perception.
rearview mirror car

Engineering & Design Solutions

Automotive engineers are using advanced technologies to meet these challenges:

 

  • AI-Powered Image Processing: Real-time adjustments to improve visibility in varying conditions.
  • HDR Cameras: High-contrast imaging for better night-time and adverse weather performance.
  • Ergonomic Display Designs: Strategically placed OLED or LCD screens to ensure a natural viewing experience.
  • Adaptive Systems: Auto-adjusting camera angles and brightness based on driving conditions.

Cost & Procurement Considerations for OEMs FAQs

Q: What is the cost for manufacturers to produce digital mirrors?
A: The cost to manufacture digital mirrors varies with the resolution of the cameras, the kinds of displays used, and the processing power necessary. Prices are expected to drop as more digital mirrors get adopted.

Q: What supply chain difficulties beset the digital mirror business?
A: Several pressing problems within the semiconductor industry can have a direct effect on cost and production and scheduling:

 

  • Availability of semiconductors
  • Availability of sensors
  • Reliability of suppliers
digital mirror business

Future Trends & Innovations

  • AI-powered digital mirrors with real-time hazard detection and image enhancement.
  • Integration with autonomous driving technology to provide enhanced situational awareness.
  • Advanced camera-based rearview systems featuring 360-degree surround-view capability.

Rearview digital mirrors are the future of the auto industry. They provide improved safety. They improve aerodynamics. And they help improve fuel efficiency. But they weren’t cost-effective enough to be too widely adopted—that is, until better artificial intelligence, display technology, and fundamental aerodynamics made this solution much more viable.

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