Tesla HW5 cameras to be heated against frost and fog as Samsung adds aperture control

As many Tesla owners who live in colder climates could attest, the suite of vehicle cameras used for driver-assist features like Autopilot or FSD can fog or get covered in snow, ice, and sleet.

The reduced visibility then gets in the way of accuracy, all the while Tesla moved to rely on its camera-only Vision software instead of "redundant" backup components like radar or ultrasonic parking sensors to save on production costs.

Granted, the latest Hardware 4.0 FSD kit uses higher resolution Samsung cameras, and the front bumper camera on the Cybertruck comes with a cleaning system, but when frost bites those lenses need heating.

Tesla HW5 may use Samsung "Weather Proof" cameras

That is exactly what Samsung has crafted - heated lens elements - for its next generation of smart vehicle cameras that will enter mass production later this year. Equipped with 8MP sensors, the cameras will also feature an ingenious system for lens heating that can melt the ice and snow covering them in a minute or less.

Unlike other such vehicle cameras, Samsung has managed to integrate the heating elements directly into the lens components, rather than just on a cover glass. 

Samsung calls its new vehicle eyes "Weather Proof" cameras, as it also comes with water-repellent coating to prevent droplets from hanging onto the lenses. According to Samsung, this will help with "lane changing and motion detection" as the image won't be distorted as much. The coating itself uses a proprietary material that is much tougher to nick or scratch, and is 6x more durable than current solutions.

Currently, Samsung is supplying the high-res cameras in Tesla's Hardware 4.0 FSD suite that is installed in its newer vehicle batches. Those are still not immune to fogging and freezing, but there is a high chance that Tesla will order the new "Weather Proof" car cameras.

Tesla is rumored to start equipping vehicles with its next-gen HW5 suite as soon as next year, so they will be a prime candidate for Samsung's new 8MP vehicle cameras.

Vehicle cameras with variable aperture and hybrid lenses

In addition to the weatherproof feature with heated lenses, Samsung has developed "the world’s first  [vehicle] camera module equipped with an aperture that controls the amount of light." This would allow the vehicle to control for various dynamic range scenarios its autonomous driving system has to adjust to, like a bright light at the end of a dark tunnel.

To achieve this, Samsung has used its phone camera expertise, yet made the so-called IRIS system tougher as it has to withstand much harsher climate conditions. In addition, it has developed hybrid lenses made of glass and plastic to achieve the best ratio of weight and durability to cost and performance for automotive applications.

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