Ford to implement high-tech lighting system that makes driving at night safer

Ford is in the midst of developing a couple of advanced front-lighting technologies created to prevent collision and keep drivers safe at night.

Ford’s two new advancements were developed at its European Research and Innovation Centre.

And when no GPS data is available, the system uses a further camera mounted in the rearview mirror to understand the undulations of the road and save them to memory so that the next time the auto is traveling along the same route, the headlights already know where to shine. The way it works is an infra-red camera on the front of the car’s grille locates and tracks people and larger animals like dogs based on their body heat by up to 120 meters (around 394 feet) away.

New technology has included improvements in cruise control, smart headlights, and warning systems.

There are a lot of persons who drive in the night and have to react quickly when something or someone suddenly appears on the road just like it was out of nowhere. When it encounters an object obstructing its view, an obstacle of any nature, it will automatically turn the headlights onto the target and display a highlighted version on the screen inside the vehicle in yellow or red, depending on the level of danger.

At junctions, the system’s wider sweep better illuminates turn-offs and helps the driver more easily identify pedestrians that may be trying to cross the road, Ford says. The system engages two “spotlights” on the highest-priority targets, illuminating the hazard and placing a directional stripe on the road surface. The system will also illuminate the exits of roundabouts adequately.

Global Positioning System technology can also be combined with adaptive lighting, to enhance the illumination while approaching bends or corners. Ford hopes its headlight technologies will cut that number down, though it’s not clear how long it might take its Spot Lighting system to become available commercially.

Ford is expected to introduce Advanced Front Lighting System in its production cars soon. It widens the headlight beam, allowing drivers to spot walkers, cyclists, and animals better at intersections and curves.