Audi Digital Matrix LED: a revolution for car headlights!

The Audi e-tron Sportback debuts Audi digital Matrix LED headlights, with a range of new features that will mark a before and after in automotive lighting systems.

A lot has happened since Audi introduced LED technology in its daytime running lights on the Audi A8 W12 back in 2004. Initially it sought an improvement in efficiency, although its main purpose was to give designers a powerful customisation tool.

Today, LED headlights for all functions (high and low beam) are almost standard across many manufacturers, and can be fitted even to city cars or compact models, either as standard or optionally, at a cost far below what fitting xenon headlights used to involve, for example.

Following LED technology, Audi has pioneered automotive lighting systems with its Matrix LED headlights, with laser light, with the combination of both technologies in its Matrix LED laser headlights… and even with OLED organic light-emitting diode technology, debuted in the rear light clusters of the new Audi A8.

Now, the four-ring brand takes another leap forward with the new Audi digital Matrix LED lighting system, which will be offered as an option for the first time on a production car in the new Audi e-tron Sportback.

Audi Digital Matrix LED: lighting à la carte

The key to this technology lies in devices called DMDs, which contain a small chip housing up to one million micro mirrors. Applying electrostatic fields allows the tilt angle of each of these mirrors to be modified up to 5,000 times per second.

This technology enables a precision never before seen when controlling the light beam, dimming those parts that need not be illuminated. For example, a car we are approaching, a vehicle coming towards us, or traffic signs that could cause glare.

But the most important thing is the new functions it incorporates, which open up new possibilities. For example, it is possible to generate dynamic welcome or farewell animations as you approach or move away from the vehicle, using projections onto vertical surfaces such as a wall or a garage door.

Another of its new functions is the lane light. It may be one of the most practical for those who frequently travel at night. What it does is create a kind of “carpet” of light in front of the vehicle, which dynamically adjusts to the lane being driven in, helping to keep the vehicle on course.

Finally, the marking light is the perfect complement to the night driving assistance system. What it does is identify and mark, with flashing lights, the possible presence of a pedestrian on the road, alerting the driver and thereby reducing the risk of a possible collision.

You can watch an animation showing how the new digital lights of the Audi e-tron Sportback work in this video.

https://youtu.be/nDyU8HfCNtA