Fujitsu Ten's Drive Recorder Shoots Not Only Accidents But Normal Scenery

May 12, 2009 17:05 Hideyoshi Kume, Nikkei Electronics

Fujitsu Ten Ltd will release the "DREC3000," a drive recorder that records video of accidents, in early June 2009. It is targeted at general consumers.

The DREC3000 is the successor to the "DREC2000," which was released in October 2007 (See related article). Compared with the DREC2000, the new product introduced a capability to shoot video and still images of the driving view whenever the driver wishes.

Specifically, the drive recorder incorporated a "video memory function," which allows the driving view to be recorded, as well as a "single shot memory function," which enables to shoot the scenes that the driver wants to keep as a driving record like a digital camera. The product also offers an "event memory function," which records a total of 20 seconds of video before and after a crash or an incidence of sudden braking.

The drive recorder stores video and still images on SD memory cards. The included 1-Gbyte SD memory card can store 15 events, 20 minutes of video and 600 single shots.

The operability of the DREC3000 was improved by adding an operation switch for outputting recorded content on the main body. When outputting the content on a monitor of a car navigation system or other monitors, the operator can choose videos and images to display from a list by using this switch.

Also, the new drive recorder comes with a voice guidance function. Using the audio speaker in the camera attachment, the drive recorder alert the driver with voice messages when it detects, for example, abrupt steering or acceleration events. In accordance with the state of driving, it issues six kinds of messages such as "Dangerous driving!" with the aim of promoting safe driving.

The camera used to shoot video of accidents employs a 310,000-pixel CMOS sensor. Its horizontal and vertical viewing angles are 135° and 105°, respectively. The main body measures 70 x 20 x 113mm. The company maintained the price at ¥52,500 (approx US$539), the same as the DREC2000's price.

Fujitsu Ten set its sales goal for general consumer sales at 15,000 to 20,000 units annually. And it aims at equivalent unit sales as an optional device marketed through automobile dealers.

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