First introduced in its passenger vehicle line, namely the D-Max and mu-X, the Smart Duo Cam mimics the ability of the human eyes to see depth. Unlike the human eye, however, the Smart Duo Cam system is wide angle allowing it provide collision mitigation braking at intersections and on single-track roads.

The Smart Duo Cam system, was developed by Hitachi, and a version of it is also being used in Isuzu’s OE partner, Mazda on the BT-50 as well as Subaru (which branded it EyeSight) and Suzuki.

The sensing system employed in the new Elf model uses a 120-degree wide-angle camera. This is combined with a millimeter-wave radar (a safety feature more commonly used in Japanese trucks) and a newly-developed software to achieve precise wide-angle detection. The Elf becomes the first light-duty truck in Japan to mitigate collision damage not just from the front, but also for right and left turns at intersections.

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan is promoting the mandatory installation of collision mitigation braking not only in passenger cars but also in commercial vehicles such as trucks. Although accidents caused by trucks have been decreasing year by year, 60 percent of fatal accidents involving pedestrians occur at single-track roads, while 40 percent occur at right or left turns in intersections. Therefore, there is a growing need for collision mitigation braking that can cover a wide field of view.