The Balance of Illumination and Glare Prevention of Upward Directed Lighting

This study investigates the ongoing challenge of balancing sufficient headlight illumination with the need to prevent glare for other drivers. It focuses on the upper portion of a headlight's beam pattern, which is particularly relevant for lighting overhead signs and the upper portions of vulnerable road users. This study investigates the influence of LED headlamp technology on upward directed lighting and compares illumination of systems with varying mounting heights. This is especially important when it comes to the performance of camera-based pedestrian detection and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems. Data was collected by testing multiple vehicles over time with pedestrians positioned at two distinct locations relative to the vehicle as well as some discrete points relative to the headlamp and independent of mounting height. The resulting analysis reveals trends, providing valuable insights for predicting optimal lighting strategies in future systems. These strategies may require improved control over the precise location and intensity of emitted light to balance visibility for human drivers with the functional needs of advanced camera sensors.