Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are developing an experimental headlight system that could be used to keep oncoming drivers from being blinded by your high beams.
The system uses a special digital light processing projector that splits the high beams into a million separate beams, each of which is controllable via the onboard microprocessor.
The camera has the ability to detect multiple oncoming vehicles at regular highway speeds and either dim or disable the high beams that would otherwise be shining right into drivers' eyes and blinding them. The system is able to make decisions based on the camera's real-time output, rather than having to use predictive algorithms. The time lag between detecting a vehicle and dimming the lights is no more than 2.5 milliseconds.
The researchers hope to make the technology compact enough to be embedded into regular-sized headlights.
Headlight-Blocking Gadgets
This Prototype Could Protect Drivers From Blinding High Beams
Trend Themes
1. Blindness-preventing Headlight Systems - The development of experimental headlight systems that prevent drivers from being blinded by high beams presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the automotive industry.
2. Digital Light Processing Projectors - The use of digital light processing projectors to split high beams into a million separate beams, controlled by a microprocessor, opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the lighting technology sector.
3. Real-time Camera-based Decision-making - The implementation of real-time camera-based decision-making systems in automotive technologies offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for improving driver safety and convenience.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - The automotive industry can leverage blindness-preventing headlight systems to enhance driver safety and address the issue of blinding high beams.
2. Lighting Technology - Digital light processing projectors in headlight systems present a disruptive innovation opportunity for the lighting technology industry to improve beam control and customization.
3. Safety and Surveillance - The integration of real-time camera-based decision-making technologies in safety and surveillance systems can disrupt the industry by enabling faster and more accurate responses to potential hazards.