Adaptive headlights are becoming quite common in newer car models. Audi was the first in the auto industry to use LED headlamps in the major markets. Now, the company is leading the pack by using GPS technology to assist the driver in ways yet to be imagined. LED lights not only conserve energy and enhance visibility, they fundamentally work differently than traditional light bulbs. LED lights are made of small diodes that work independently from each other, which has allowed Audi to control the precise amount of light and which direction the light is heading with lenses and reflectors controlled by computer.
In the Audi A8 Sedan, which will hit the market later this year, each headlamp incorporates 25 high-intensity LED lights, which are linked to the vehicle’s front-facing camera and GPS navigation device. When an oncoming vehicle is detected by the system, the new Audi can lower portions of the lights, so the oncoming driver isn’t blinded by headlights. The headlamps still light up the surrounding road and most of the oncoming vehicle, but continues to dim as the vehicle approaches, as to continue avoiding obstructing the oncoming driver’s vision. However impressive this technology is, it isn’t exactly new.
The real innovation has to do with the GPS device linked to the headlamps. The vehicle is able to anticipate turns in the road and can bend the light around the curve before the driver even starts to turn the wheel. Another great addition to the Audi A8 is the night-vision assistance. The vehicle can detect pedestrians in its path and will flash its LED headlights on the person three times. This system both helps the driver notice and avoid a terrible accident and gets the attention of the pedestrian, so he or she can also move more carefully to avoid injury or worse.
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Audi A8 Sedan Uses GPS Technology For Smart Headlights
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