Abstract
This paper describes how polar plots are constructed and used to evaluate fields of view from vehicles. A polar plot presents a driver's three dimensional view of the vehicle structure, such as window openings or mirrors, and the subjects outside of the vehicle, such as other vehicles in adjacent lanes, in a two dimensional (or polar) field. The paper includes examples of polar plots and illustrates how they can be used by an automotive designer to evaluate many specific problems. Example problems illustrated include (1) angular locations of pillars; (2) monocular and binocular obscurations caused by pillars; (3) hood visibility; (4) visibility of adjacent vehicles; and (5) fields of view available from planar and convex mirrors.