E-Safety Spotlight

This Focus on Electronics section highlights some of the latest applications of electronics and communications technology to improve automobile safety.

Valeo is developing headlight technology it calls “Bending Light” that automatically directs light into road bends to optimize forward nighttime visibility. The technology is said to make a significant contribution to comfort and convenience by reducing driver stress and fatigue often associated with difficult nighttime driving conditions. It underlines the “priority Valeo places on customer-focused R&D and contributes to our goal of being recognized as the world leader in vehicle lighting technology,” said Thierry Morin, Chairman of Valeo's Management Board.

The Bending Light system consists of a bi-xenon projector or reflector headlamp that can rotate up to 20° from its normal position, or an additional projector or reflector, or a combination of the two, to deliver more light into a road bend. The actuation of the motorized lighting unit within each headlamp assembly is controlled electronically by a Valeo control algorithm that employs signals from steering-wheel and wheel-speed sensors, and (optionally) a satellite navigation system (GPS). The system's specification is flexible enough to accommodate the design criteria of various vehicle OEMs.