Mirror designs, if we can't use cameras yet.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by aerohead

I really like what they've done,but another,deeper investigation needs to be made,investigating the technology as an aerodynamic 'system' of mirror and host vehicle together.

Agreed. I'd start with a generic stalk against a flat wall, in order to not particularize the result to any vehicle. And also combine the Maclaren ventilator into the unit.

Vekke -- My guess would be that there is a lot of distortion, viewing through the compound-curved plastic. What do you see?

My home-brew mirror mount causes a lot of vibration, to where I put my thumb on the mirror to de-blur the view. How is it for vibration?

Smokeduv -- That sounds like it should work, but the camera really only needs a pin-hole to view through.

[Smokeduv]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Agreed. I'd start with a generic stalk against a flat wall, in order to not particularize the result to any vehicle. And also combine the Maclaren ventilator into the unit.

Vekke -- My guess would be that there is a lot of distortion, viewing through the compound-curved plastic. What do you see?

My home-brew mirror mount causes a lot of vibration, to where I put my thumb on the mirror to de-blur the view. How is it for vibration?

Smokeduv -- That sounds like it should work, but the camera really only needs a pin-hole to view through.

Then it would be even easier

I have some very tiny cameras from some medical devices. I might try some... They are not HD, but have a very good quality for a 5 inches display

[NeilBlanchard]

Video mirror cameras need to handle a wide range of light levels. Having about 90-100 degrees of view would be about ideal. My cameras are anything but HD (I think they are ~360 pixels in the vertical axis?) and that is fine; though more is better.

Having a point of visual reference in the video mirror view is critical. And I recommend a 7"-9" monitor; especially if you have them located away from the driver.

[67-ls1]

I just read the California rule and while it says you need at least two mirrors that can see the highway 200 feet behind the vehicle and one must be on the left, it does not say they need to be outside.
My old Chevelle has one of those interior mirrors with 5 individual mirrors across maybe 30". The first section or individual mirror is clearly to the left of the center of the car so "technically", this should comply.
What does a fix-it ticket cost these days? I may risk it.

[serialk11r]

While I love the McLaren vented mirrors, my car already has a cabin air intake...

A design I always wondered about after seeing the Lexus LFA was a mirror sitting right next to the A-pillar with a long housing extending ahead of the windshield. That would presumably weaken the A pillar vortices.

[spacemanspif]

I saw a re-run of the original "The Fast and the Furious" a while ago and noticed that one of the cars had goofy side mirrors. So I thought I might share on this thread as its about better side mirrors, not really sure how much better these would be but wanted to bring them up anyway. Pics:



Apparently they are called BOMEX mirrors (not sure if it's the brand or style) but found them online for $260





Bomex 96-00 Toyota Rav4 3 dr Aero Mirrors Manual(S-038)

Could be a style worth replicating IF its a good compromise between OEM and none at all....

[freebeard]

In the 1980s that fillet would have run the full length of the front fender. How about this?


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3966775&sid=e992301164daf93f90992a 2b14978193#3966775

It's after the A-pillar and being closer to the driver's eye, it can be smaller than otherwise.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

While I love the McLaren vented mirrors, my car already has a cabin air intake...

A design I always wondered about after seeing the Lexus LFA was a mirror sitting right next to the A-pillar with a long housing extending ahead of the windshield. That would presumably weaken the A pillar vortices.

*Some of the low-drag concepts place the mirror below the cowl level to get them below that accelerated A-pillar flow.(Probe IV)
*Ford has done this with their F-150,which has a special cut down side windows for which to see the lowered units.
*Subaru moved their XT mirrors out 80mm from the body,into slower air and killed most of the interference.
*Ditto with GM Impact.

[Cd]

I had read in the past that Ferrari moved the mirrors high on the A pillar for lower drag on the Testarossa, but that cars drag was such a mess, that it makes me wonder if they made the effort.



Sure enough, I found this info : "The early Testarossas were fitted with the famous single high mirror, also known as the "flying mirror". The strange location of this mirror was related to a European law regarding the external rear view mirror, which was interpreted by the designer as the need of having 100% rearward visibility. As this simply was an incorrect interpretation of the law, Ferrari later decided (also after many complaints about the single high mirror) to use double low mirrors, first shown on the Geneva show in 1986. The first cars having double low mirrors were s/n 67079 for Euro versions and s/n 67487 for US versions (first US car with Model Year 1987). "

here :Red Headed - Testarossa

[Vekke]

My mirror vison was not perfect, but good enough on proto parts. Biggest problem was that all 3 sides were joined to together, so if the sun was from behind it gave some reflections. Also the surface was not fully mirror due to low budjet and my oven manufacturing and vacuum forming methods...



I did make tuft testing and tufts were fully attached .

Solution is to have similar cover, but not make it teardrop in car heigth (Z) direction. So only teardrop the mirror cover in cars width direction (Y).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CShM...PXQ9qn-3dX2unD

Mirror footage is starts at 5.20-

It is positioned high to avoid that high speed air flow at A-pillar corner but also the have it at my eye level
Quite back to get wider look angle and more cool air flow for the driver
My mirror is wide angle so I do not have any blind spots there.

I can make a improved version if you would like to buy them?

I did also make some calculations of the mirror drag:
Frontal area is about 75mmx105mm=0,00788m2 vs regular Lupo 3L mirror (this is smaller than most mirrors already) 120mmx190mm=0,0228m2. That is 2,8 times smaller

This design will lower your fuel consumption about 2-6% depending on the car.

Those race type mirrors that hang at some distance from body are 5 times worse visibility wise compared to my setup. My customers A2 has those and there is very big blind spot there.


Mirror frontal area is pretty much same.