How Smart Headlights Work

How Smart Headlights Work

Over the years, automotive headlight design has changed dramatically, moving from a utilitarian part of the vehicle to an essential part of the vehicle's overall design and operation. Despite this change, the basic functionality of most vehicle lighting systems remains the same as it was 50 years ago. Even the fancy headlights are mostly limited to low beam, high beam, and perhaps automatically switching between the two depending on road conditions.

In some parts of the world, however, headlight design is changing, and in a big way. They're getting smarter, and have evolved to the point where they can shine differently depending on what's happening on the road (and nearby) ahead. New smart headlights make automatic high beams look like antique technology, so let's take a look at what they are and why they're so advanced.

What are smart headlights?

Smart headlights, also called adaptive headlights or adaptive high beam headlights (ADB), illuminate the road with a constant beam that's just as bright as the high beams of a conventional headlight system. Instead of the driver or the vehicle's computer switching between two brightness settings, ADB systems use sensors and special light unit designs to change the shape, brightness, and direction of the light. This can be achieved through shutter systems that physically block part of the headlight beam, or using matrix headlight units composed of multiple light sources that can be turned on and off as needed. Adaptive headlights can also refer to lighting systems that change direction based on the vehicle's steering input. You may have heard this term used to describe automatic high-beam headlights or similar devices, but these systems are not functionally the same as the lights described here.

How smart headlights work includes the following aspects:

‌Automatic on/off control‌: Smart headlights sense changes in the intensity of external light through light sensors installed behind the headlights. When the light gets darker, the sensor sends a signal to the central smart control box, which automatically turns on the headlights; when the light gets brighter, the control box automatically turns off the headlights. This function solves the problem of drivers forgetting to turn on their headlights when it is dark, especially in poor visibility conditions such as tunnels. Automatic headlights can provide sufficient lighting to help drivers better see the road ahead, thereby improving driving safety‌.

Intelligent brightness adjustment‌: Automatic headlights have the function of intelligent brightness adjustment, which can automatically adjust the brightness of the headlights according to changes in external light. This intelligent lighting system ensures that drivers can get a clear view in all light conditions, so that they can focus more on driving and reduce the possibility of being distracted by manually adjusting the lights.

Avoid dazzling oncoming drivers: The intelligent headlights can also automatically adjust the illumination height of the low beam according to the distribution of the light on the ground or the distance between the two vehicles to avoid dazzling the oncoming drivers. This function is realized through the central intelligent control box and the photosensitive control system, ensuring the safety of night driving.

Adapt to road conditions and driving behavior: The intelligent headlights can also change the high beam with the speed of the vehicle according to the position of the accelerator pedal or the speed of the vehicle. When the speed is high, the light is far and narrow, and when the speed is slow, the light is close and wide. In addition, according to the steering angle, speed, road conditions and other conditions, the illumination direction when turning is automatically adjusted to avoid visual blind spots and further improve safety performance.

In summary, the smart headlights, through the synergy of the photosensitive control system and the central intelligent control box, realize the functions of automatic switch control, intelligent brightness adjustment, avoiding dazzle for oncoming drivers, and adapting to road conditions and driving behaviors, thereby improving driving safety and driving experience at night and in complex environments.

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