Assessment of an Adaptive Driving Beam Headlighting System: Visibility and Glare

Abstract

Recent developments in solid-state lighting, sensor, and control technologies make new configurations for vehicle forward lighting feasible. Adaptive driving beam (ADB) systems build on systems that automatically switch from high- to low-beam headlights in the presence of oncoming vehicles. ADB systems can detect oncoming headlights and preceding taillights and reduce their intensity only in the direction of the other lights, while they maintain higher levels of illumination throughout the remainder of the field of view. The nominal benefit of ADB systems is the provision of high-beam levels of illumination in the forward scene, while glare is reduced to oncoming and preceding drivers, who perceive low-beam illumination levels. In this study, two dynamic field experiments were conducted: one experiment measured the ability of observers to identify the walking direction of roadside pedestrian targets with and without the use of the ADB system; the other experiment evaluated the discomfort glare elicited by the ADB system compared with the glare from conventional low- and high-beam headlights. The findings from both experiments were consistent with previous analytical and static field tests and suggested that ADB systems can offer safety benefits beyond those offered by conventional headlight systems.

Mobile eye tracking during real-world night driving: A selective review of findings and recommendations for future research

“…Like salient objects, salient light-induced dynamics caused by an adaptive headlight beam could attract the gaze and elicit eye movement changes. Such adaptive headlamps provide illumination similar to high beams, while at the same time avoid glaring other road users by adjusting the driving beam [ 80 ]. This adjustment introduces a new kind of light dynamic to the driving scene – a dynamic that is not a mere consequence of the driver’s own car movement, but that also depends on the movements of the oncoming traffic and the road geometry.…”

Study on the Influence of Opposing Glare from Vehicle High-Beam Headlights Based on Drivers’ Visual Requirements

“…The psychophysical method is a method that mainly evaluates the degree of discomfort glare, and the evaluation process is divided into three parts: (1) selection of representative subjects for subjective evaluation of uncomfortable feelings, (2) measurement of photometric parameters within the field of view, and (3) establishment of a correlation model between the subjective evaluation of feeling levels and photometric parameters [ 22 ]. Scholars have conducted many studies on the evaluation models of discomfort glare, and obtained evaluation models of the degree of discomfort glare for different scenes [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. To describe perceptions of discomfort glare, various scholars have developed scales consisting of several words [ 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 ], among which the nine-point scale designed by de Boer et al has been widely used [ 30 ].…”

“…Scholars have conducted many studies on the evaluation models of discomfort glare, and obtained evaluation models of the degree of discomfort glare for different scenes [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. To describe perceptions of discomfort glare, various scholars have developed scales consisting of several words [ 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 ], among which the nine-point scale designed by de Boer et al has been widely used [ 30 ]. However, some scholars have also raised different opinions to de Boer’s nine-point scale.…”

Intelligent Object Shape and Position Identification for Needs of Dynamic Luminance Shaping in Object Floodlighting and Projection Mapping

“…The accurate identification of the object is therefore key to determining the direction of movement, human body pose features, etc., so that the system reaction can be correct-e.g., darkening the zones with moving vehicles in order to reduce glare while ensuring good lighting conditions. The systems similar in principle to those currently implemented in the automotive industry [1] are also developed in the broadly understood lighting and multimedia technology. A system based on devices recording a digital image and distance is the most advanced concept undertaken by the authors of this paper.…”