Adaptive Systems for Motor Vehicle Lighting First Steps and Future

In addition to the integration of new light sources, the main task for the creation of innovative competitive systems in the area of motor vehicle lighting will be found in the intelligent adaptation of the technical parameters and characteristics of lighting to different conditions of use and environment.

• In the frontlighting sector, cornering light that switches on automatically and dynamic bend lighting are already being used in series applications. Probably as soon as next year, variable beam patterns will allow adaptation of the frontlighting to different types of roads.
• In the case of combination rear lamps, a system has been developed that allows adaptation to environmental brightness and visibility conditions. An improved signalling effect is also guaranteed by the dynamic stop signal, which is already being used in series applications.
• As far as interior lighting is concerned, adaptive controls can contribute to more relaxed and safer driving by adapting brightness.

A major part of the information necessary for controlling motor vehicle lighting systems is obtained from the vehicle electric system data, which is becoming more comprehensive all the time. Supplementing this data, newly developed sensors that can be integrated directly into the technical lighting components provide other important information.

This paper will attempt to provide some insight into the development status of the above-mentioned fields of application with their functional possibilities and technological implementation. It concludes with a look at the future potential of adaptive lighting systems with the next steps for their implementation.