CarVi’s dash cam doesn’t just record the road, it sends safety data to your phone

By Andrew Hard Published February 6, 2015

Dash cams, even those that connect to smartphones, are not uncommon these days. More rare, though, are products that can analyze video in real time and send important safety information back to the driver.

One such example is CarVi, a driver’s assistant that is currently crowdfunding on Indiegogo.

How does this hockey puck-shaped device work? CarVi uses a windshield-mounted, single-lens camera to record the road, then sends video to Android or iOS phones via on-board Wi-Fi.

The CarVi app then uses an algorithm to monitor the film, warning the driver of unsafe following distances and sudden lane changes with audio and visual alerts.

It even keeps tabs on jackrabbit starts, hard braking, and reckless motoring, providing the user with a map of previous journeys, a daily driving ‘SKOR,’ and suggestions to improve skills behind the wheel.

CarVi — Image used with permission by copyright holder

CarVi began development back in 2010 and records in 720p HD. The unit includes an embedded 3D G sensor, microphone, and Wi-Fi dongle, and supports up to a 64GB Micro SD card. The device measures 100mm in diameter and weighs 250 grams, or just over a half-pound.

CarVi’s crowdfunding campaign kicked off on February 4^th, and has raised $35,961 of its $100,000 goal at the time of this writing. The company has until March 20^th, 2015 to raise the full amount.

There are various rewards (Indiegogo calls them ‘perks’) associated with different levels of financial contribution. They include a branded T-shirt for $25, a CarVi pre-order for $249, and a ‘Hacker’s Choice’ development kit for $499.

Bundled with the CarVi unit itself, the ‘Hacker’s Choice’ option will allow you to customize the device to your liking depending on your level of programming savvy.

Former Staff Writer

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Topics

Cars

Tesla launches the six-seat Model Y Long Wheelbase in the US

The stretched electric SUV brings more space, more comfort, and up to 325 miles of range.

Tesla Model Y Long Wheelbase Featured

Tesla is giving the Model Y a little more breathing room. The company has officially launched the Model Y Long Wheelbase in the United States and Puerto Rico, introducing a stretched version of its best-selling electric SUV with a three-row, six-seat layout that's designed to make family road trips a lot more comfortable.

A bigger Model Y with a focus on comfort

Cars

A stolen Kia reveals the hidden limits of connected car technology

Kia can see where your stolen car is. GDPR means it won't share that in real time. That is the entire problem.

Kia EV3 design

If you’re buying a car with connected car technology, thinking it would help you to recover it in the event of theft, you might want to recalibrate your expectations.

A recent incident in the UK, in which a car owner had three tracking devices installed in his car and still couldn’t recover it, led the carmaker to state that connected-car technology isn’t a “certified security vehicle tracker” (via the BBC).

Cars

Cambrige experts find utterly simple fix for longer lasting EV batteries. Just put some pressure on it.

Scientists found a way to make EV batteries last longer without reinventing the battery

EV Charging

EV battery breakthroughs typically involve new chemistry, exotic materials, or faster charging/higher capacity. But a new study reveals that you can skip all the fancy stuff and go with a very simple solution, Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that putting the battery under the right amount of pressure actually helps.

The study was about how physical pressure affects lithium-ion battery life, which found that keeping cells under constant pressure could double their lifespan. The work was published in Nature Energy, and the team says the improvement came without changing the active materials, electrolyte, or basic battery chemistry.