The outside rear view mirrors on motor vehicles are located outside a vehicle's solid body, normally attached to the side doors. Owing to their contour and positions, they present certain drawbacks which may cause dangers on the road, especially under unfavourable conditions when both the side door glasses and the surface of the outside mirrors are contaminated. In this study an advanced optic rear view mirror unit has been designed and developed, with the aim to eliminate all the drawbacks of said outside rear view mirrors and hence to enhance traffic safety. It shows that the said mirror unit eliminates the aerodynamic drags and sight blocks caused by the protrusion of conventional outside mirror bodies, places the rear vision inside a vehicle at a more logical physical position related to the driver, and provides an always clear view to the rear area regardless the outside weather conditions. (A)
Abstract