Automotive camera systems serve as critical components in modern vehicles, enabling a wide range of safety and assistance functions. These include forward-looking Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) capabilities like lane keeping, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian and obstacle detection, and automated emergency braking, as well as rear-view and surround-view monitoring for safer parking and maneuvering. Featuring high-resolution imaging, wide dynamic range, and real-time AI-driven image processing, these cameras help vehicles interpret their surroundings accurately. Technological advances now include multi-camera configurations for comprehensive 360° vision and sensor fusion with radar and lidar to improve detection reliability.
Despite their benefits, automotive cameras face numerous challenges: poor visibility in low light or harsh weather, glare and contrast issues, lens contamination, calibration needs, cybersecurity risks, and hardware reliability under extreme environmental conditions. Reliable performance relies on regular maintenance, advanced processing algorithms, and integration with other sensors to ensure safety and resilience across diverse driving scenarios.