Video based curve light system - sensor, system and results.

Considerable interest has been shown in the potential for intelligent vehicle light control systems such as ones which will match the light distribution from headlamps to the curvature of the road. Sensors that detect the curvature of the road in front of the vehicle are discussed. A video sensor works on the principle of video based lane detection with white or yellow lane markers on a grey surface. A test vehicle was equipped with a gas discharge lamp projection modules as a low beam headlight. The curve light control function and the swivel algorithm had to be matched to the different sensors. The curve light system was then evaluated by the driver and oncoming traffic and the detection distance of objects in curves was measured. The detection distance increased with increasing left hand curve radius. A gain in braking response time was observed. The detection distances were larger in right-hand curves than in left hand curves due to the asymmetric light distribution of the headlamps. The curve light system based on a video sensor did not increase glare. For the covering abstract see ITRD E123380.