CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
8 September 2008
Implementation Investments
SolidWorks 3D CAD Software Helps Enable Launch of SideEyes, a Potentially Life-Saving Infrared Alert System
Tens of thousands of Americans die every year in auto crashes. Novitá Technologies of Hendersonville, Tenn., has released a potentially life-saving solution to chip away at the problem.
Called SideEyes®, the electronic blind spot alerting system was developed with 3D CAD software from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. (DS SolidWorks). Launched in August for the Chrysler® Town & Country and Dodge® Caravan, SideEyes effectively eliminates the blind spot behind the driver on both sides of the car. When a car or motorcycle enters the 3-meter-by-7-meter danger zone, an LED indicator on the mirror bezel glows bright orange.
“The technology development began in the mid 80’s, but we needed a tool like SolidWorks® to reduce the size of the componentry so it would fit unobtrusively on a car mirror,” said Novitá mechanical design engineer Chad Ice. “We’ve achieved that with SolidWorks and did so rather quickly thanks to its parametric capabilities, interference detection, measurement/mass properties tools, and integration with our electronic design automation (EDA) software. If we hadn’t standardized on SolidWorks, SideEyes would likely be languishing on the drawing board.”
SideEyes uses infrared technology to sense vehicles, including motorcycles, on both sides of a car. It is a dealer-installed option planned for all major makes and models and distribution through auto parts retailers. Novitá Technologies used SolidWorks software to model the infrared light emitters, sensors, and electronics so that SideEyes never requires alignment.
“We’ve all found ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time on the road, and it’s a constant concern for most responsible drivers,” said Efrat Ravid, Director of Marketing Alliances for DS SolidWorks Corp. “Through SideEyes, Novitá Technologies is tackling one major category of road hazard and, it stands to reason, potentially saving the lives of many loved ones.”
A Cure for Dangerous Blind Spots –
Novitá Technologies relies on authorized SolidWorks reseller ModernTech Mechanical for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.
Novitá, based in Hendersonville, Tenn., manufactures and supplies Tridon® flashers that cover 90 percent of the automotive aftermarket and the most effective side object detection system in the original equipment market today. For more information, visit http://www.novitatech.com/prod_sideeyes.html.
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