Motorists who follow the news may recall that there was a move to ban High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights as these were considered “dangerous” to oncoming traffic. In reality, however, such technology is considered as a safety feature in many other parts of the world who put a premium on road safety.
While our lawmakers are still trying to grasp the whole concept of safety, Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled a new headlight technology that not only promises to illuminate the road better but can also enhance safety for all motorists. The HD headlamp (yes, HD, as in High Definition) is a new technology that is poised to illuminate the road as bright as daylight.
At the heart of the tech are more than one million light pixels per HD headlamp. Powered by high-current Light Emitting Diodes (LED), the system actually utilizes a total of two million micro-mirrors. This is what essentially throws light onto the road surface. Beyond all the geek-speak, what this simply means is that the light projected onto the road is brighter than anything out there.
While daylight-like illumination is a given, what sets the HD headlamp apart from the rest is the ability to adapt to its surroundings. Using the vehicle’s various sensors like the camera and radar, the system can detect how much light is available and adjusts the headlight’s intensity accordingly. Moreover, it can detect things like oncoming traffic and redirect the light so as not to blind motorists in the opposite lane while still retaining the brightest possible illumination.
To further enhance road safety, the HD headlamp uses Digital Light that can act as a projector that throws various signals and diagrams onto the road ahead. It can, for example, project an image of a directional arrow to warn other motorists of the driver’s intentions. This is just one cool way that Mercedes-Benz hopes to eliminate or at least lessen road mishaps.
The Mercedes-Benz HD headlights wil be available on Mercedes vehicles within the coming years. As for our lawmakers, let’s hope they read up on technologies like these and finally see the light.
