Visibility is important on the road, but side-view and rearview mirrors only offer limited fields of vision. While engineers have developed safety technology such as blind spot warning systems, this is not the only solution to give drivers more awareness of their surroundings. Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, a mathematics professor at Drexel University, set out to develop a side-view mirror that would provide a wider scope and his quest was successful.<\/p>\n
A traditional side-view mirror is a flat surface that provides about a 15 to 17 degree view behind the side of the car. Hicks found a way to create a distorted surface that reflects a field of vision roughly 45 degrees using a mathematical algorithm. Regular distorted mirrors can offer a wider view, but they warp the image and alter the perceived distance, but Hicks' design all but eliminates this issue.<\/p>\n
"Imagine that the mirror's surface is made of many smaller mirrors turned to different angles, like a disco ball." Hicks explained. "The algorithm is a set of calculations to manipulate the direction of each face of the metaphorical disco ball so that each ray of light bouncing off the mirror shows the driver a wide, but not too distorted, picture of the scene behind him."<\/p>\n
The mirror is not constructed like a disco ball, but has a "smooth, nonuniform curve." Hicks recently got approval for a patent on his design, and while regulations in the U.S. will prohibit the mirrors from being factory installed in cars, drivers may soon be able to purchase and install these mirrors themselves. This means drivers looking to buy used cars in NJ can take action against those pesky blind spots.<\/p>\n