Mercedes-Benz trucks at the forefront of technology: they will fit cameras instead of mirrors

Not so many years ago, science fiction films brought us closer to a vehicle full of screens and cameras, in which the driver’s intervention was not necessary. Without a doubt, that technology seemed far off, but the truth is that much of it is already a reality thanks to brands like Mercedes-Benz. The star brand has taken a huge technological leap with its latest range of vehicles, something it has also wanted to apply to its line of trucks.

We must not forget the importance the truck still holds in the contemporary world, being one of the most widely used means of transport for many companies. With this in mind, Mercedes has wanted to pamper them a little more and offer a technology that can only be found on a few current vehicles.

We are referring to the cameras that replace the rear-view mirrors, a solution that may not make much sense in a conventional vehicle but does in a truck. We must take into account the dimensions of these giants of the road and their poor or non-existent visibility, causing their drivers to struggle to see what is happening behind their rear.

This technology is called MirrorCam and consists of two cameras and two monitors, which, at first glance, sounds simple. These cameras are positioned somewhat higher than conventional mirrors would be, at roof height to be more exact, which means that both the angle and the field of view are much wider.

The image is transmitted to the driver through two vertical 15.2-inch screens located inside the cabin, with a resolution of 720×1920 pixels. These will not only eliminate blind spots, but also provide great help when parking and manoeuvring. To make it even more practical, Mercedes’s engineers have protected the cameras with a film capable of repelling water and, should the outside temperature drop below 15 °C, they will heat up automatically.

The new MirrorCam will go into action with the new Mercedes-Benz Actros, marking a new turning point for the brand. For now it is not known whether this technology will be applied to the brand’s passenger cars, but either way, everything suggests we will not have to wait long to see future E-Class and S-Class models adopting a similar system.