ADAPTIVE FRONT LIGHTING

Vehicle lighting development has been a relatively slow process, with better lighting performance often being achieved by having bigger headlights or more of them. This article discusses a project with an aim to enhance the lighting performance through 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. The partners in the program for the development of a 'Variable Intelligent Lighting System' (VARILIS) include numerous automobile manufacturers and lighting system specialists. Some of the specific issues VARILIS is addressing include: direct lighting of the area immediately in front of the car under different weather conditions; the long-range, narrow pattern of light distribution that is ideal for high-speed travel on motorways but unsuitable on twisting country roads; safety issues including headlight illumination in low light conditions and the ability to differentiate between high natural ambient light levels and high artificial levels.