Ford is implementing a new headlight system that has the ability to selectively pinpoint potential road features and hazards that might not be visible to the driver at first glance. Ford’s European Research and Innovation Centre located in Aachen, Germany, is now working on this new camera based lighting that is called the Advanced Front Lighting System. The system uses a set of cameras, headlights, fog lamps, spotlights and GPS.
At junctions, the Advanced Front Lighting System’s wider sweep will better illuminate tur-offs in the road and assist the driver to more easily identify pedestrians that might be trying to cross the road. Many people who drive during the night time have to react quickly to something or someone quickly appearing on or in the road.
HEADLIGHTS WILL USE GPS TO MAP AND STORE INFORMATION
The headlights can also adjust to a given road’s curvature using the Global Positioning System, or GPS, and forward-facing camera, which is mounted within the base of the rearview mirror. For an even more evolutionary step, the camera will also store the information it receives in the navigation system. Also, the headlights will be able to complete this function all on their own.
SPOT LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL IMPLEMENT INFRA-RED CAMERA TECHNOLOGY
Ford’s new Spot Lighting system will be using an infra-red camera in the front grille of the vehicle to spot and track up to eight people and large animals up to 120 meters away, which is about 390 feet. The special LED lamps that are near the car’s fog lights will swing to the right or the left, making potential hazards easier to see. The objects are also going to be displayed on the screen in the vehicle and will be highlighted in either a red or yellow frame according to the respective hazard level.
THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO MAKE ROUNDABOUTS EASIER TO MANEUVER
These features will make things like bends, sharp turns, and roundabouts easier to see and also to expect ahead of time. The system will also illuminate the exits of roundabouts adequately. The system is designed to monitor the road ahead and the areas parallel to it at distances of up to 394 feet to search for potential hazards and obstacles.
