New Night Driving Headlights are Ahead of the Curve

We are looking into new ways to make driving in the dark easier and more comfortable.

Driving at night, especially on winding unfamiliar roads, can be stressful, with many people choosing to avoid the experience altogether.

We were the first to use road signs and lane markings as cues to adjust headlight beams to better illuminate the road ahead, especially around junctions.

Now, we are testing technology that uses real-time location data to effectively show the car the way to go.*

The predictive smart headlight system directs beams into upcoming corners even before drivers may have seen them, illuminating hazards and other road users more quickly and effectively.

The prototype system, developed by engineers from Ford Research and Advanced Engineering Europe, uses GPS location data, advanced technologies and highly accurate street geometry information to accurately identify turns in the road ahead.

An algorithm calculates the trajectory and speed of the vehicle to proactively adjust the direction of its headlights, providing optimal light coverage of bends, junctions – and even hazards lurking around the corner.

If the vehicle encounters a stretch of road where location data is not available, the system will work alongside camera- and steering based dynamic headlight bending technologies to continue to intelligently light the road until the location data improves.

“This new map- and location based system is the next step on our quest to make driving at night no more difficult or stressful as during the day.”

Michael Koherr, Advanced Lighting Research Engineer, Ford of Europe

*Prototype headlight system not currently available for specification 

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