Adaptive front lighting

Though there have been several early attempts at giving lighting systems some mechanical “intelligence,” Hella believes the time is drawing near for the burgeoning capability of processors and sensors to play a significant role in enhanced frontal illumination.

European drivers want a brighter future, says lighting specialist Hella KG Hueck & Co. The company reports that recent research has revealed that drivers need front lighting to “respond to different light conditions,” not only from day, through twilight, to darkness, but also with tunnels and with differing weather conditions including rain, fog, and snow. Better illumination around bends and of the edge of the road is also called for, as is additional lighting when parking.

The Europeans are not alone in wanting these improvements. International working groups such as those involved in EUREKA project EU 1403AFS (Adaptive Frontlighting Systems) hope to achieve harmonized light distribution for adaptive front lighting. U.S. and Japanese companies are also involved, and Hella believes there is “high probability” that worldwide regulation for “smart” headlights will be achieved. The aim of the project is to enhance the lighting performance via a clearer definition of the cutoff in terms of sharpness and geometry of the light, reduction of the illuminance in the area in front of the vehicle, and a reduction of self-glare, according to Hella, which is heading a program for the development of an intelligent front-lighting system. Its partners in the Variable Intelligent Lighting System (VARILIS) program are Audi, BMW, VW, Fiat, Ford, Volvo, GM, DaimlerChrysler, Automotive Lighting, Valeo, Visteon, Koito, Stanley, Ichikoh, ZKW, Philips, and Osram.