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The doors to the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show don't officially open until Thursday morning, but we got a sneak preview of the setup going on in the LVCC's North Hall. That's where most of the automotive action will be concentrated and there are plenty of wild rides lining the halls.

FLIR, the maker of BMW's night-vision system, will be at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week showing off its PathFindIR thermal imaging camera. The company says its system isn't confused by oncoming headlights, works well in cold weather and can even see through fog, dust and smoke.

FLIR also says its camera is based on the same technology used by the military to provide a 36° field-of-view of the road ahead.

Looks like the biggest gadget convention on Earth is becoming the place for big automotive announcements. You'll remember that two years ago at the Consumer Electronics Show, Ford and Microsoft announced their partnership on Ford's SYNC system, and last January General Motor's CEO Rick Wagoner chose Las Vegas to unveil the all-electric Cadillac Provoq concept. It was the first time in the convention's 40-year history an automaker had revealed a concept car to the world there.