This new technology can display directions, speed limits or weather information on the road so that the driver’s gaze remains constant at all times.
Although the number of drivers increases during the day, driving at night is often more dangerous. For example, 40% of car accidents in the UK happen in the dark.[1]. This danger increases each time the driver takes his eyes off the road. A car traveling at 90 km/h travels 25 meters per second, which means that with a quick glance at a screen or a mobile phone, you can “drive out of sight” for ten meters or more. Without lighting, this could mean that there is no significant sign or curve in the road.
But displaying information on the road with high-resolution headlights can benefit drivers and even other road users. For example, a pedestrian walkway can be displayed on the street in situations where existing road signs are dimmed or blurred. Other possibilities include showing a path for the driver to follow to prevent vehicles from encroaching on the spaces designated for cyclists.
To demonstrate the technology’s potential, Ford engineers have created a demo that allows drivers and passengers to play video games when the car is parked. The inspiration for this concept came when an engineer envisioned the back of his car as a potential display.
Engineers have programmed a test vehicle to run a video game similar to Tetris®. Headlights were used to project the game onto the wall, and the pieces could be controlled using the buttons on the steering wheel. This laid the foundation for further research on what to expect on the road to make nighttime driving easier.
“What started with a video game can take lighting technologies to a whole new level, now there is the potential to do more than just light the road. The driver can get key information without having to take their eyes off the road.” Lars Juncker, development engineer for advanced driver assistance systems, Ford Motor Company.
This technology can provide the driver with data on changes in the weather such as snow, fog, slippery conditions or icy roads. Connecting headlights to the navigation system can show upcoming turns on the road, while the width of the vehicle on different lanes can be shown to the driver to assess whether he is able to pass or park in different places.
Striving to make night driving safer and more comfortable is part of Ford’s commitment to developing technologies that serve and improve the way people live and work, and make their lives easier now and in the future.
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