Headlights to become smarter

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Joey D

Joey D

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Smart lights are coming

Source: Autoblog and Auto Express

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When compared to some of the other developments in automotive technology, many believe that advances in lighting haven't kept up. "Smart" lights seek to fill that void.

The technology, currently under development by Hella, employs the use of a sensor and a camera to detect vehicles in the distance. If the system identifies another car, up to 2,600 feet away, it can position the headlamp lower to cut the length of the beam and thus preventing the glare through the windshield or reflected in the mirror.

The system can detect vehicles traveling in any direction, and is even intelligent enough to identify when either vehicle is on an incline or hill. Supposedly, the system doesn't reduce the effectiveness or visibility provided by traditional headlights.

If this spells the end of misaligned lights blinding us at night, we're interested in seeing this technology come to market. But don't expect it anytime soon, as Hella maintains it won't be ready for primetime for another couple of years.
 
Sweet lets add $1000 to the price of every non-import with this new headlight system and $3k for every import with it. I'm not paying money for smart headlights if I'm buying a car that's less than $25k USD. This technology might be great and all that jazz but leave it on the luxury cars--or at least cars that are over $30k USD. I just hope the US Goverment in ALL ITS GLORY *sniker* doesn't make this mandatory for automakers.

Awsome!

[/sarcasm]
 
But wait, would that men the car infront wouldn't be able to see the headlights of the car behind?

It's a good idea, and headlights are certainly stuck in the old ages (along with windscreen wipers) compared to other areas of cars.
 
Yes it would only be on luxury models at first, but think about it, where did HID's start in the first place? Now they are on a 25k GTI. Those lights that turn with the car are on expensive vehicles now but I bet they become seen more and more on lower end cars. Headlights are a safety feature and I would be more then willing pay an addition grand to have that safety. As someone who wears glasses I hate the glare misaligned headlights cause for me, I think this would be an added safety feature to a car.
 
Joey D
When compared to some of the other developments in automotive technology, many believe that advances in lighting haven't kept up. "Smart" lights seek to fill that void.
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That's because they've been plenty adequate for the past 50 years. Sure the newer bulbs and such are nice, but do we really need computerized headlights? Just another ploy to make a few bucks and increase repair costs. I'd rather replace a few bulbs once in a while, compared to new control motors, sensors, and wiring. "If it works, leaver be."

I say put more money into auto dimming mirrors.
 
People like new technology and they like it when it's applied to their cars.

Auto dimming mirrors suck, my mom's Pacifica has them and they don't work worth a damn.
 
I suppose the main advantage will be for oncoming drivers - when driving at night in mountainous areas, drivers coming from the other direction are more of a trouble.
That should also solve the problem of SUVs with their high-positioned lights blinding everyone.

This seems to me like a great developement.
 
It would be best to keep them optional. That way, those who don't want to spend the extra money for the complicated system don't have to. I probably wouldn't. It's another electronic system that can fail, and would be expensive to repair.
 
I see this staying on lux brands like Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, (especially Lexus) and whatnot for awhile in the future.
 
So, what? The old High Beam-Low Beam system is no longer adequate?

I think that the KISS principle should be referenced. I'm all for brighter lights, but I think that computerised and motorised headlamps are overkill.

It all comes back to taking control of the vehicle away from the driver. And that, IMHO, is not a good thing.
 
Slicks
So, what? The old High Beam-Low Beam system is no longer adequate?
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No. It's not. See the following:
Gingiba
I suppose the main advantage will be for oncoming drivers - when driving at night in mountainous areas, drivers coming from the other direction are more of a trouble.
That should also solve the problem of SUVs with their high-positioned lights blinding everyone.
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Slicks
I'm all for brighter lights
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No thanks. I can't count the number of times an oncoming modern car has seared my retinas. I've actually made the mistake of flashing my brights at someone who was blinding me with what turned out to be their low-beams.
 
This is sweet! To many time have I been blinded buy other cars driving with their high-beams on and especially with HID projector headlights.
 
Cool :) What ever happened to them look-around-the-corner headlights by Lexus? (I think). Did they ever make it into the market, or did it cost a billion dollars more?
 
ExigeExcel
But wait, would that men the car infront wouldn't be able to see the headlights of the car behind?
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No, it just means that the beam won't be shining right into the mirrors of the car infront.
 
I'd presume it does, but to what extent I don't know. I can't imagine your headlights contantly altering thier angle with oncoming traffic as being safe.
 
I presume in the UK you don't have giant ass SUV's all over the place like here in the states. But even in my truck when I'm driving at night and an Escalade comes tears down the street, it's cutoff is slightly above my field of vision make me pretty much blind to everything. It's not exactly safe.
 
Wolfe
No thanks. I can't count the number of times an oncoming modern car has seared my retinas. I've actually made the mistake of flashing my brights at someone who was blinding me with what turned out to be their low-beams.
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It won't have much effect on mountain roads, anyway. If you can't see an oncoming car from around a corner, there's little chance the computer will, either.
Obstacles are obstacles, and while the computer may have a few tenths better reaction time than you, I'd still prefer to have control.

I mustn't have been clear enough in my last post. Let me restate something:
I'm all for brighter high beams. If you're using the high beams, there's probably not anyone infront of you anyway. If you're on your lowbeams, then you've probably got other lighting around you (be it a car or streetlamps).

I drive a car, too. I know what it's like to be blinded. I agree that it's not always safe, but in all honesty I do doubt the effect it'll have on real motoring. Like I said before, a few tenths.
Besides which, if the person behind you has their highs on, they probably have them on purpose.
 
Wolfe
No thanks. I can't count the number of times an oncoming modern car has seared my retinas. I've actually made the mistake of flashing my brights at someone who was blinding me with what turned out to be their low-beams.
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Modern headlights are the bane of my existence. Pure crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Take a zillion candles of ultra-white power to do the same thing my old yellow lights have been doing for years.

I say, for safety's sake... do away with HIDs. Make everyone drive with an Eveready flashlight taped to the driver's side door. It'd make them drive slower at night, at least... :lol:
 
Wolfe
I've actually made the mistake of flashing my brights at someone who was blinding me with what turned out to be their low-beams.
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I think I’ve made that mistake myself. It seems to have gotten exponentially worse in the past year or two – there are times when it seems like half the cars behind me have their high-beams on.
 

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