Researchers Develop Anti-Glare Headlights to Make Rain & Snow Invisible
Katherinev123 — July 5, 2012 — Autos
References: technologyreview & etechmag
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed innovative anti-glare headlights that will make driving in the rain and snow incredibly easier. The prototype system was created to actually "dis-illuminate" the raindrops and snow, making them virtually invisible, so that the driver can see the road more clearly.
How do these anti-glare headlights work? According to Technology Review, a special digital projector illuminates the raindrops for several milliseconds, while at the same time a camera snaps each raindrop's location. Then, software will predict where each drop will fall on the windshield or in front of the driver, and the headlights' beam that would typically illuminate the drop would be turned off. In this way, all of the light that would have hit the raindrop (usually the drops three to four meters in front of the car are most distracting), causing glare, would not exist -- only the light that travels in between each drop.
The innovation will be tremendously useful for drivers, but head researcher Srinivasa Narasimhan believes more experiments must be done to account for the moving vehicle before the anti-glare headlights can be made available on the market.
How do these anti-glare headlights work? According to Technology Review, a special digital projector illuminates the raindrops for several milliseconds, while at the same time a camera snaps each raindrop's location. Then, software will predict where each drop will fall on the windshield or in front of the driver, and the headlights' beam that would typically illuminate the drop would be turned off. In this way, all of the light that would have hit the raindrop (usually the drops three to four meters in front of the car are most distracting), causing glare, would not exist -- only the light that travels in between each drop.
The innovation will be tremendously useful for drivers, but head researcher Srinivasa Narasimhan believes more experiments must be done to account for the moving vehicle before the anti-glare headlights can be made available on the market.
Trend Themes
1. Anti-glare Headlights - Opportunity for automotive manufacturers to develop headlights that eliminate glare caused by rain and snow, improving visibility for drivers.
2. Raindrop Detection Software - Opportunity for software developers to create accurate raindrop detection algorithms that can predict the location of raindrops on windshields or in front of drivers.
3. Enhanced Driving Safety - Opportunity to develop innovative solutions that enhance driving safety in adverse weather conditions, such as rain and snow, by reducing glare and improving visibility.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - Automotive industry can benefit from the development of anti-glare headlights to offer safer driving experiences in various weather conditions.
2. Software Development - Software development industry can contribute by creating advanced raindrop detection algorithms that accurately predict the location of raindrops for enhanced visibility.
3. Safety Equipment - Safety equipment industry can capitalize on the need for innovative solutions that improve driving safety in adverse weather conditions, such as anti-glare headlights.
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