# Automobile Design Advances Smart Brake Light System By Ayman | Published 2008-03-27 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-brake-light-system References: [engadget](http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/26/virginia-tech-students-create-smart-brake-lights-for-cars/) Automobile brake lights have been pretty much the same since they were invented. It's either on or off. Now, students in Virginia Tech have updated the outdated design with a horizontal light bar that communicates [slowing and stopping actions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collision-prevention-system) as well. It can indicate that you are slowing down, about to stop, and how hard and quick you are pressing the pedal. The design uses a [horizontal array of LED lights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cuttingedge-display-technologies) that work like this: when you begin to slow down the lights in the center glow orange, if you keep slowing down the lights turn red after a certain threshold, and if you slam the brake pretty hard, the whole array flashes red. If and when the concpet rolls into production, we can expect to see a cool light show on the roads at night! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 13% | Activity: 36% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Advanced Brake Light Systems:** There is an opportunity to disrupt the automotive industry by implementing more advanced brake light systems that can signal more detailed braking actions. - **LED Light Innovation:** LED light technology can create opportunities for innovation and disruption in various industries beyond just automotive, such as home lighting or wearable technology. - **Smart Sensor Integration:** Using sensors to detect braking actions can be applied to other industries beyond automotive, such as sports equipment or personal safety devices. ### Where This Applies - **Automotive Manufacturing:** Automotive manufacturers can capitalize on advanced brake light system technologies to provide safer and more innovative vehicles, giving them a competitive edge in the market. - **LED Light Manufacturing:** LED light manufacturers can explore the potential for creating new innovative products beyond just automotive light systems. - **Sensor Technology:** Sensor technology can be integrated into various industries beyond just automotive to create new products that can better monitor and communicate data in real-time. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Trailer-Mounted Brake Control Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brake-control-system.md) - [Tech-Enhanced Safety Bike Lights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rear-bike-light.md) - [Luxe Illuminating Car Headlights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hd-matrix.md) - [Car Color-Changing Technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/car-color-changing-technology.md) - [IoT-Connected Traffic Beacons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/traffic-beacon-concept.md) - [Autonomous Driving Headlights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/automated-driving-marker-lights.md) - [Pedestrian-Detecting Crosswalks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-pedestrian-crosswalk.md) - [Omnidirectional Bike Lights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vis-lightpool-taillight.md) - [Automatic Color-Changing Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bmw-ix-flow.md)