What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose
Auto Terms,  Security Systems,  Car device,  Vehicle electrical equipment

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

With the advent of self-propelled vehicles, the risk of road accidents has increased. Every new car, even a budget model, is adjusted to the growing demands of modern drivers. So, the car can get a more powerful or economical power unit, improved suspension, a different body and a variety of electronics. Since cars on the road are a potential source of danger, each manufacturer equips its products with all kinds of safety systems.

This list includes both active and passive safety systems. An example of this is airbags (their structure and principle of operation are described in more detail in another article). However, some equipment can be attributed to both safety and comfort systems. This category includes car head light. No vehicle is no longer presented to us without outdoor lighting. This system allows you to continue driving even in the dark, as the road is visible thanks to the directional light beam in front of the car.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

Modern cars can use different bulbs to improve road illumination (standard bulbs do a poor job of this, especially at dusk). Their varieties and work are described in detail. here... Despite the fact that the new elements of the head light show the best light performance, they are still far from ideal. For this reason, leading car manufacturers are developing different systems to achieve the optimum between safe and efficient lighting.

Such developments include adaptive light. In classic vehicles, the driver can switch the low or high beam, as well as turn on the dimensions (about what function they perform, read separately). But such switching in many cases does not provide good road visibility. For example, city mode does not allow the use of high beam, and in low beam lighting the road is often difficult to see. On the other hand, switching to low beam often makes the curb invisible, which can cause a pedestrian to be too close to the car, and the driver may not notice him.

A practical solution is to make optics that strike the perfect balance between curb lighting and safety for oncoming traffic. Consider the device, varieties and features of adaptive optics.

What are adaptive headlights and adaptive lighting?

Adaptive optics is a system that changes the direction of the light beam depending on the traffic situation. Each manufacturer implements this idea in its own way. Depending on the modification of the device, the headlight independently changes the position of the light bulb relative to the reflector, turns on / off some LED elements or changes the brightness of the illumination of a certain section of the road.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

There are several modifications of such systems that work differently and are adapted to different types of optics (matrix, LED, laser or LED type). Such a device works in automatic mode and does not need manual adjustment. For efficient operation, the system is synchronized with other transport systems. The brightness and position of the light elements is controlled by a separate electronic unit.

Here are just a few situations in which standard light fails:

  • Driving on a highway outside the city allows the driver to use the high beam. An important condition in this case is the absence of oncoming traffic. However, some drivers do not always notice that they are driving in the long-range mode of the lamps' illumination, and blind oncoming traffic participants (or in the mirror of drivers of cars in front). To increase safety in such situations, the adaptive light automatically switches the light.
  • When the car enters a tight corner, the classic headlights shine exclusively forward. For this reason, the driver sees the road less well around the bend. The automatic light reacts to which direction the steering wheel is turning, and accordingly directs the light beam where the road leads.
  • A similar situation when the car goes up the hill. In this case, the light hits upward and does not illuminate the road. And if another car is driving towards you, the harsh light will certainly blind the driver. The same effect is observed when overcoming passes. An additional drive in the headlights allows you to change the angle of inclination of the reflector or the light element itself so that the road is always viewed as much as possible. In this case, the system uses a special sensor that detects the slope of the roadway and adjusts the operation of the optics accordingly.
  • In city mode, at night, while driving through an unlit intersection, the driver sees only other vehicles. If you need to make a turn, it is extremely difficult to notice pedestrians or cyclists on the roadway. In such a situation, the automation activates an additional spotlight, which illuminates the turning area of ​​the car.
What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

The peculiarity of various modifications is that in order to activate certain functions, the speed of the machine must correspond to a certain value. In some situations, this helps drivers to adhere to the speed limits allowed within the boundaries of settlements.

History of origin

For the first time, the technology of headlights capable of changing the direction of the light beam has been applied on the iconic Citroen DS model since 1968. The car received a modest, but very original system that turned the headlight reflectors towards the steering wheel. This idea was realized by the engineers of the French company Cibie (founded in 1909). Today this brand is part of the Valeo company.

Although at that time the device was far from ideal due to the rigid physical connection between the headlight drive and the steering wheel, this development formed the basis for all subsequent systems. Over the years, power-driven headlights have been classified as toys rather than useful equipment. All companies that tried to take advantage of this idea were faced with one single problem that did not allow them to improve the system. Due to the tight connection of the headlights to the steering, the light was still late in adapting to the bends.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

After the French company founded by Léon Sibier became part of Valeo, this technology received a "second wind". The system improved so quickly that no manufacturer was able to get ahead of the release of the new thing. Thanks to the introduction of this mechanism into the outdoor lighting system of vehicles, driving a car at night has become safer.

The first truly effective system was AFS. The novelty appeared on the market under the Valeo brand in 2000. The first modification also had a dynamic drive, which reacted to the turns of the steering wheel. Only in this case the systems did not have a rigid mechanical connection. The degree to which the headlight turned depended on the speed of the car. The first model to feature such equipment was the Porsche Cayenne. This type of equipment was called the FBL system. If the car was moving at high speed, the headlights could turn in the direction of the turn by a maximum of 45 degrees.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose
Porsche Cayenne

A little later, the system received a new thing. The novelty was named Corner. This is an additional static element that illuminated the turning area where the car was going to go. Part of the intersection was illuminated by switching on the appropriate fog lamp directed slightly away from the central light beam. This element could be activated when turning the steering wheel, but more often after turning on the turn signal. An analogue of this system is often found in some models. An example of this is the BMW X3 (an external light element is turned on, often a fog lamp in the bumper) or Citroen C5 (an additional headlight mounted spotlight is turned on).

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose
Citroen C5

The next evolution of the system concerned the speed limit. The DBL modification determined the speed of the car and adjusted the brightness of the glow of the elements (the faster the car moves, the further the headlight shines). Moreover, when the car enters a long turn at speed, the inner part of the arc is illuminated so as not to blind the drivers of oncoming traffic, and the beam of the outer arc beats further and with an offset towards the turn.

Since 2004, the system has evolved even more. The Full AFS modification has appeared. This is a fully automatic option that no longer worked on the basis of the driver's actions, but on the readings of various sensors. For example, on a straight section of the road, the driver could make a maneuver to bypass a small obstacle (hole or animal), and turning on the turn light is not required.

As a factory configuration, such a system has already been found in the Audi Q7 (2009). It consisted of different LED modules that light up in accordance with signals from the control unit. Headlights of this type are capable of turning vertically and horizontally. But even this modification was not perfect. For example, it made night driving in the city safer, but when the car was moving along a winding road at high speed, the electronics could not independently switch the high / low beam - the driver had to do this on his own so as not to blind other road users.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose
Audi Q7 2009

The next generation of adaptive optics is called GFHB. The essence of the system is as follows. The car can constantly move at night with the main beam on. When oncoming traffic appears on the road, the electronics reacts to the light from it, and turns off those elements that illuminate that area of ​​the road (or move the LEDs, forming a shadow). Thanks to this development, during high-speed traffic on the highway, the driver could use the high beam all the time, but without harm to other road users. For the first time, this equipment began to be included in the device of some xenon headlights in 2010.

With the advent of matrix optics, the adaptive light system has received another update. Firstly, the use of LED blocks made it possible to make the exterior lighting of the car even brighter, and the working life of the optics increased significantly. The efficiency of cornering lights and protracted bends has increased, and with the appearance of other vehicles in front of the vehicle, the light tunnel has become clearer. A feature of this modification is a reflective screen that moves inside the headlight. This element provided a smoother transition between modes. This technology can be found in the Ford S-Max.

The next generation is the so-called Sail Beam technology, which was used in xenon optics. This modification eliminated the disadvantage of this type of headlights. In such optics, the position of the lamp changed, but after darkening the section of the road, the mechanism did not allow the element to quickly return to its original position. The sail light eliminated this disadvantage by introducing two independent light modules in the headlamp design. They are always directed towards the horizon. The dipped beam works on an ongoing basis, and the horizontal ones shine into the distance. When an oncoming car appears, the electronics pushes these modules apart so that the beam of light is cut into two parts, between which a shadow is formed. As the vehicles approached, the position of these lamps also changed.

A movable screen is also used to work with the dynamic shadow. Its position depends on the approach of an oncoming vehicle. However, in this case too, there was a significant drawback. The screen was only able to darken one section of the road. Therefore, if two cars appear in the opposite lane, then the screen simultaneously blocked the light beam for both vehicles. Further generation of the system was named Matrix Beam. It is installed in some Audi models.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

This modification has several LED modules, each of which is responsible for lighting a specific area of ​​the track. The system turns off the unit that, according to the sensors, will blind the driver of the oncoming car. In this design, the electronics are able to turn off and on different units, adjusting to the number of cars on the road. The number of modules is of course limited. Their number depends on the size of the headlamp, so the system is not able to control the dimming of each car if the oncoming traffic is dense.

The next generation eliminates this effect to some extent. The development was named "Pixel Light". In this case, the LEDs are fixed. More precisely, the light beam is already generated by a matrix LCD display. When a car appears in the oncoming lane, a "broken pixel" appears in the beam (a black square, which forms a blackout on the road). Unlike the previous modification, this development is capable of simultaneously tracking and shading several cars at once.

The most recent adaptive optics today is laser light. Such a headlamp is capable of hitting a car in front at a distance of about 500 meters. This is achieved thanks to a concentrated beam of high brightness. On the road, only those with farsightedness are able to recognize objects at this distance. But such a powerful beam will be useful when the car is moving along a straight section of road at high speed, for example, on a highway. Given the high speed of transport, the driver should have enough time to react in time when the situation on the road changes.

Purpose and modes of operation

As you can see from the history of the system, it was developed and improved with one goal. While driving at night at any speed, the driver must constantly monitor the situation on the road: are there pedestrians on the roadway, is someone going to cross the road in the wrong place, is there a risk of hitting an obstacle (for example, a branch or a hole in the asphalt ). To control all these situations, quality light is extremely important. The problem is that in the case of stationary optics, it is not always possible to provide it without harm to drivers of oncoming traffic - the high beam (it is always brighter than the near one) will inevitably blind them.

To help the driver, automakers offer various adaptive optics modifications. It all depends on the material capabilities of the car buyer. These systems differ not only in the blocks of light elements, but also in the principle of operation of each installation. Depending on the type of devices, the following road lighting modes may be available to the motorist:

  1. City... This mode works at low speeds (hence the name - city). The headlights shine wide while the car travels a maximum of 55 kilometers per hour.
  2. Country road... The electronics move the light elements so that the right side of the road is illuminated more, and the left is in standard mode. This asymmetry makes it possible to recognize pedestrians or objects on the side of the road earlier. Such a light beam is necessary, since in this mode the car drives faster (the function works at 55-100 km / h), and the driver should notice foreign objects on the way of the car earlier. At the same time, the oncoming driver is not blinded.
  3. Motorway... Since the car on the track is moving at a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour, then the range of the light should be greater. In this case, the same asymmetrical beam is used as in the previous mode, so that drivers in the opposite lane are not dazzled.
  4. Far / near... These are standard modes found in all vehicles. The only difference is that in adaptive optics they switch automatically (the motorist does not control this process).
  5. Turning light... Depending on which way the car turns, the lens moves so that the driver can recognize the nature of the turn and foreign objects in the path of the car.
  6. Poor road conditions... Fog and heavy rain, combined with darkness, pose the greatest danger to moving vehicles. The electronics determine how bright the light should be, depending on the type of system and light elements.
What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose
1) Turning light; 2) Backlight in bad road conditions (for example, fog); 3) City mode (red), road traffic (orange); 4) Trunk mode

The key task of adaptive light is to minimize the risk of an accident as a result of a collision with a pedestrian or an obstacle due to the fact that the driver could not recognize the danger in the dark in advance.

Adaptive headlights options

The most common types of adaptive optics are:

  • AFS. Literally, this abbreviation from English translates as an adaptive front light system. Various companies release their products under this name. The system was originally developed for Volkswagen brand models. Such headlights are capable of changing the direction of the light beam. This function works on the basis of algorithms that are activated when the steering wheel is turned a certain degree. The peculiarity of this modification is that it is compatible only with bi-xenon optics. The headlamp control unit is guided by the readings from different sensors, so that when the driver goes around some obstacle on the road, the electronics does not switch the headlights to the cornering light mode, and the bulbs continue to shine forward.
  • AFL. Literally, this abbreviation translates as adaptive road lighting system. This system is found on some Opel models. This modification differs from the previous one in that it not only changes the direction of the reflectors, but also provides a static adjustment of the light beam. This function is achieved by installing additional bulbs. They turn on when the repeaters are activated. Electronics determines at what speed the car is moving. If this parameter is higher than 70 km / h, then the system only changes the direction of the headlights themselves, depending on the steering wheel turn. But as soon as the speed of the car decreases to the permissible in the city, the turns are additionally illuminated by a corresponding fog lamp or an additional lamp located in the headlight housing.

The specialists of the VAG concern are actively developing the adaptive lighting system for the road (read about which companies are part of this concern. in another article). Despite the fact that today there are already very effective systems, there are prerequisites for the device to evolve, and some system modifications may appear in budget cars.

Types of adaptive systems

The most effective system today is considered to be the one that performs all the functions described above. But for those who cannot afford such a system, automakers also offer budget options.

This list includes two types of such devices:

  1. Dynamic type. In this case, the headlights are equipped with a swivel mechanism. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the electronics move the position of the lamp in the same direction as the swivel wheels (much like a headlight on a motorcycle). Switching modes in such systems can be standard - from near to far and vice versa. The peculiarity of this modification is that the lamps do not rotate at the same angle. So, the headlamp illuminating the inside of the turn will always move in the horizontal plane at a greater angle than the outside. The reason is that in budget systems, the beam intensity does not change, and the driver must clearly see not only the inside of the turn, but also the lane along which he is moving, with part of the curb. The device operates on the basis of a servo drive, which receives appropriate signals from the control unit.
  2. Static type. This is a more budget option as it does not have a headlight drive. Adaptation is provided by turning on an additional light element, for example, fog lights or a separate lens installed in the headlight itself. True, this adjustment is available only in city mode (the dipped headlights are on, and the car moves at speeds up to 55 kilometers / hour). Usually, an additional light comes on when the driver turns on a turn or turns the steering wheel to a certain angle.
What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

Premium systems include a modification that not only sets the direction of the light beam, but also, depending on the road situation, can change the brightness of the light and the inclination of the headlights if a pass is overcome. In budget car models, such a system is never installed, since it works due to complex electronics and a large number of sensors. And in the case of premium adaptive light, it receives information from the front video camera, processes this signal and activates the corresponding mode in a split second.

Consider the device, and on what principle two common automatic light systems will work.

The structure and principle of operation of AFS

As already mentioned, this system changes the direction of the light. This is a dynamic adjustment. In the technical literature for Volkswagen models, the abbreviation LWR can also be found (headlight tilt adjustable). The system works with xenon light elements. The device of such a system includes an individual control unit, which is associated with several sensors. The list of sensors whose signals are recorded to determine the position of the lenses include:

  • Machine speed;
  • Steering wheel positions (installed in the area of ​​the steering rack, which can be read about separately);
  • Vehicle stability systems, ESP (how it works, read here);
  • Windscreen wipers.
What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

Standard adaptive optics works according to the following principle. The electronic control unit records signals from all sensors connected to the device, as well as from a video camera (its availability depends on the system modification). These signals allow the electronics to independently determine which mode to activate.

Next, the headlight drive system is activated, which, in accordance with the algorithms of the control unit, drives the servo drive and moves the lenses in the appropriate direction. Due to this, the light beam is corrected depending on the traffic situation. To activate the system, you must move the switch to the Auto position.

The structure and principle of operation of the AFL system

This modification, as mentioned earlier, not only changes the direction of the light, but also illuminates the turns with stationary bulbs at low speeds. This system is used on Opel vehicles. The device of these modifications is not fundamentally different. In this case, the design of the headlights is equipped with additional bulbs.

When the car is moving at high speed, the electronics fixes the degree of steering and moves the headlights to the appropriate side. If the driver needs to go around an obstacle, then the light will hit directly, since the stability sensor has registered a change in the position of the body, and an appropriate algorithm was triggered in the control unit, which prevents the electronics from moving the headlights.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

At low speeds, turning the steering wheel simply turns on the additional side lighting. Another feature of AFL optics is compatibility with special optics, which shine equally brightly in both long-range and short-range modes. In these cases, the inclination of the beam changes.

Here are a few more features of this optics:

  • Able to change the angle of inclination of the light beam up to 15 degrees, which improves visibility when going up or down the mountain;
  • When cornering, road visibility increases by 90 percent;
  • Due to the side lighting, it is easier for the driver to pass intersections and notice pedestrians in time (on some car models, a light alarm is used, which winks at pedestrians, warning of an approaching car);
  • When changing lanes, the system does not switch mode;
  • It independently controls the transition from near to far glow mode and vice versa.

Despite these advantages, adaptive optics are still inaccessible to most motorists, as they are often included in the premium equipment of expensive cars. In addition to the high cost, repairing failed mechanisms or troubleshooting electronics will be expensive for the owner of such optics.

What does AFS OFF mean?

When the driver sees the message AFS OFF on the instrument panel, it means that the headlights are not being automatically adjusted. The driver must independently switch between low / high beam. The electronics are activated using the corresponding button on the steering column switch or on the center panel.

It happens that the system deactivates itself. In some cases, this happens when the software crashes. This problem is eliminated by pressing the AFS button again. If it does not help, you need to turn off the ignition and turn it on again so that the on-board system of the car will conduct a self-diagnosis.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

If some kind of breakdown occurs in the adaptive light system, then it will not turn on. Faults that prevent electronics from working include:

  • Breakdown of one of the sensors associated with the system;
  • Control unit errors;
  • Malfunctions in the wiring (contact has disappeared or the line is broken);
  • Failure of the control unit.

To find out what exactly the malfunction is, you need to take the car for computer diagnostics (for how this procedure is performed, read here).

What are the names of similar systems from different manufacturers?

Every automaker that equips its cars with adaptive light has its own name for the development. Despite the fact that this system is known all over the world, three companies are engaged in the development and improvement of this technology:

  • Opel. The company calls its system AFL (Additional Side Illumination);
  • Mazda. The brand names its development AFLS;
  • Volkswagen. This automaker was the first to introduce Léon Sibier's idea into production cars, and called the system AFS.

Although in the classic form, these systems are found in the models of these brands, some automakers are trying to improve the safety and comfort of driving at night, slightly modernizing the optics of their models. However, such modifications cannot be called adaptive headlights.

What is AFLS System?

As we pointed out a little earlier, the AFLS system is a Mazda development. In essence, it differs little from previous developments. The only difference is in the design features of the headlights and light elements, as well as a slight correction of the operating modes. So, the manufacturer set the maximum tilt angle relative to the center at 7 degrees. According to the engineers of the Japanese company, this parameter is as safe as possible for oncoming traffic.

What are adaptive headlights? Principle of operation and purpose

The rest of the functions of adaptive optics from Mazda include:

  • Changing the position of the headlights horizontally within 15 degrees;
  • The control unit detects the vehicle's position in relation to the road and adjusts the vertical angle of the headlights. For example, when fully loaded, the rear of the car may squat strongly, and the front may rise. In the case of conventional headlights, even the low beam will dazzle oncoming traffic. This system eliminates this effect;
  • Illumination of the turn at the intersection is provided so that the driver can recognize in time foreign objects that can create an emergency.

So, adaptive light provides maximum comfort and safety during night driving. Additionally, we suggest looking at how one of the varieties of such systems works:

Škoda Octavia 2020 - this is who has the best regular light!

Questions and answers:

What is adaptive headlights? These are headlights with electronic adjustment of the direction of the light beam. Depending on the system model, this effect is achieved by switching on additional lamps or by turning the reflector.

What is AFS in headlights? The full name is Advanced Frontlighting System. Translation of the phrase - adaptive front lighting system. This system is integrated into the main control unit.

How do you know adaptive headlights or not? In adaptive headlights, there is a drive for the reflector or the lens itself. If there is no motor with a mechanism, then the headlights are not adaptive.

What are adaptive xenon headlights? This is a headlamp, in the block of which a mechanism with an electric motor is installed, which rotates the lens in accordance with the rotation of the steering wheel (works with a steering wheel rotation sensor).

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