Are 360 Cameras suitable as Driver Performance Tools?
I recently purchased a single lens 360 camera that captures everything around you in one .mp4 video, without the need for stitching multiple camera feeds together in post-processing. The camera is not 4K, but the video it produces is pretty good quality. Check out the video below that was captured onboard a Porsche Carrera Cup car during the recent Porsche media day at Silverstone and demonstrates the picture quality and excitement of 360 video.
NOTE - I just noticed that the LinkedIn/YouTube media embed function does not currently support 360 video on mobile devices, so the above video does not playback in the format I originally intended. To see the video properly on a smartphone, with the ability to move your view around, please access it directly on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-NaSJ_kfD0
As you all probably know, I work for a company who produce HD video-data logging systems which as extensively used by drivers to help improve their performance on track.
It got me wondering, are 360 cameras suitable for use with such systems?
There are the obvious positives if you consider the marketing/media aspects of running a 360 camera or having one in each car as a judicial system, but the big negative for performance systems has surely got to be the image distortion that occurs with 360 video. If you intend to use the video to pick out lines, braking/turning points the curvature of the video isn't ideal. Currently, I would say that the screenshots below of the forward and driver facing 1080p HD cameras from the Porsche Carrera Cup cars Race-Keeper HDX2 system provide much clearer data for driver development purposes.
What do you guys think?
Terence.Bower 121. (A.R.D.S)
8 年Totally agree Alan,a drivers eyes only need to take in a natural view of whats around him.
Managing Director at Iconic Tracks | Driver Coach
8 年It's a very strange view that will take some getting use to. I think for driver training the non 360 degree cameras are better.
Executive Director (Technical) at Holden Autosport
8 年In my experience, any driver development camera system must be integrated with GPS data in order to allow prompt and accurate side by side video analysis. Then you need to add to this the software package to reduce the track side leg work. To my knowledge, there is no 360 degree camera package option that offers this. I do however also agree with David's comments below regarding judicial cameras, from this point of view, 360 degree cameras have a clear advantage. There is no "one size fits all" solution yet.
Brand Development, Racing Driver, Driver Coach
8 年For a judicial camera it would be awesome! Great idea!