While this technology is now in the developmental phase, Ford already employs headlight technology including dynamic headlamps, which turn with the vehicle, and automatic high-beam control. Because driving at night on unlit roads has been and still is a nerve-wracking thing to do, Ford decided to address this issue with the aid of the Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System and another gizmo called the Spot Lighting System.
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The headlights can also adjust for a given road’s curvature using the aforementioned Global Positioning System and forward-facing camera, which is mounted in the base of the rearview mirror. The system also includes an infrared camera mounted on the front grille, scanning for people and animals at a range of up to 120 meters. One of the new technologies is Ford’s Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System, which can widen the beam at junctions and roundabouts to better illuminate hazards not in the direction of travel.
Ford says it’s working on a prototype lighting system that can actually point out obstacles, and learn roads so it can adapt its lighting configuration for specific situations. “Spot Lighting makes potential hazards in the road ahead more easily visible to the driver – whether that is a pedestrian, a cyclist, or even a large animal.”
According to Ford, “The system also uses GPS information to better illuminate bends and dips on a chosen route”.
“Many people who drive at night have had to quickly react to someone or something suddenly appearing in the road ― as if from nowhere”, said Ken Washington, vice president, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.
The front camera records the road information and stores it along with the car’s navigational data. Then special LED lamps next to the car’s fog lights swing to the right or left, making the hazards easier to see. When something is detected up ahead, the system highlights the people/animals on the navigation display, framing them in yellow or red, depending on how much of a danger they might be.
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Glare-Free Highbeam technology for the adaptive LED headlamps.
