Adaptive Headlamps Control System

Adaptive headlights give a better view of the road around curves and bends during night time driving. Adaptive headlights are an active safety feature designed to make driving at night or in low-light conditions safer by increasing visibility around curves and over hills. Adaptive headlights are also sometimes called active headlights or adaptive front-lighting systems.

In this section, we'll look at how adaptive headlights differ from standard headlights and find out how they can make night time driving safer. We'll also look at some headlight innovations in the works.

When driving around a bend in the road or curves, standard headlights continue to shine straight ahead, illuminating the side of the road and leaving the road ahead of you in the dark. Adaptive headlights, on the other hand, turn their beams according to your steering input so that the vehicle’s actual path is lit up.

Adaptive headlights react to the steering, speed and elevation of the car and automatically adjust to illuminate the road ahead. When the car turns right, the headlights angle is to the right. Turn the car left, the headlights angle to the left. This is important not only for the driver of the car with adaptive headlights, but for other drivers on the road as well. The glare of oncoming headlights can cause serious visibility problems. Since adaptive headlights are directed at the road, the incidence of glare is reduced.

When the car speeds up or finishes turning, the lights automatically turn themselves off. The sensors in an adaptive headlights system prevent the lights from turning when they don't need to. If the car isn't moving or is moving in reverse, the adaptive headlights won't activate. This helps keep the lights from inadvertently blinding other drivers.

Similarly, when a vehicle with standard headlights crests a hill, the headlight beams temporarily point upwards towards the sky. This makes it difficult for drivers to see the road ahead and for oncoming motorists to see the driver approaching. In contrast, adaptive headlights use a self-levelling system that points the light beam up or down, according to the position of the vehicle.

Adaptive headlights are helpful when driving on winding roads at night, during twilight, or in other low-light conditions. They can address many potentially dangerous situations, including:

1. An animal is standing on the road just around a poorly lit curve.

2. An oncoming vehicle negotiating a turn accidentally drifts into your lane.

3. Cresting a hill on a narrow road, you are unable to see whether another motorist is coming.

4. As you round a curve, your headlights temporarily blind oncoming traffic.

Adaptive headlight systems are made up of several sub-components that are monitored and controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). The sub-components include: wheel speed sensors that monitor the speed of rotation of each wheel; a yaw sensor that tracks a vehicle’s side-to-side movement, e.g., when turning a corner; a steering input sensor that monitors the angle of the steering wheel; and small motors attached to each headlight.

Adaptive Headlamps Control

The data from the sensors are interpreted by the ECU, which then determines the vehicle’s speed, and the angle and length of the curve it is negotiating. The ECU directs the motors attached to each headlight to move the beam to the degree specified by the ECU. Most adaptive headlight systems can turn the headlights up to 15 degrees per side. Newer versions of the advanced headlight system have even larger ranges of motion.

Most adaptive headlight setups also include a self-levelling system. This system helps prevent headlights from pointing too far up or too far down when driving up or down hills. A self-levelling system includes a level sensor that sends information to the ECU about the vehicle’s position, specifically whether it is tilted forward or backwards. The headlights are then moved up or down to correct for the vehicle’s positioning. Adaptive headlights are still a relatively new safety technology, so there is limited data about their effectiveness. Adaptive headlights also benefit other motorists on the road.