This is how the new headlight technology from Ford works

The Oval brand has taken things a step further and developed new headlight technology that allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road. High-resolution headlights could provide information to make night driving easier. The new technology can project directions, speed limits or weather information onto the road so the driver’s gaze stays fixed on the path ahead.

Night can pose a greater risk when driving. In Spain, 29% of road accidents occur at night. This risk increases every time the driver takes their eyes off the road. A vehicle travelling at 90 km/h covers 25 metres per second, which means that even a brief glance at the navigation screen can amount to “driving blind” for ten metres or more.

On an unlit road, this could mean missing an important sign or a bend. Projecting information onto the road using high-resolution headlights could also benefit other road users. For example, a pedestrian crossing could be projected onto the road, both for the driver’s and the pedestrian’s view, in situations where existing road markings are faded or unclear. Other possibilities include showing a path for the driver to follow and ensuring they pass cyclists at a safe distance.

This is how the new headlight technology from Ford works

The technology could provide the driver with information about weather changes, such as snowfall, fog, slippery surfaces or an icy road. Connecting the headlight to the navigation system could show upcoming turns, and the width of the vehicle could even be projected onto the road, helping the driver judge whether it will fit into a gap or a parking space.

Lars Junker, Head of Features and Software, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems at Ford Europe, has said that “what started as a game with a projector and a blank wall could take lighting technologies to a completely new level. Now there is the potential to do much more than simply light up the road, to help reduce the stress of driving at night. The driver could receive essential information without having to take their eyes off the road.”

“The effort to make night driving more comfortable is part of Ford’s commitment to developing technologies that serve and inspire the way people live and work, to make life easier, now and in the future.”