Adaptive high beam assistant

Mercedes has unveiled a new active safety solution for its models: it is an intelligent high-beam control system that continuously changes the beam of light from the headlights, depending on the driving conditions. The big difference with all other current lighting systems is that while the latter only offer two options (low beam and high beam if the side lights are not on), the new Adaptive High-Beam Assistant continuously adjusts the light intensity.

The system also significantly expands the illumination range of the low beam: traditional headlights reach approximately 65 meters, which allows you to distinguish objects up to 300 meters away without dazzling motorists driving in the opposite direction. In the case of a clear road, the high beam is automatically switched on.

During testing, the new Adaptive High-Beam Assistant showed that it can significantly enhance the driver's experience at night. When only the low beam was switched on, dummies simulating the presence of pedestrians were seen at a distance of more than 260 meters, while with current equivalent devices, the distance does not reach 150 meters.

How does this promising system work? A micro-camera is installed on the windshield, which, connected to the control unit, sends the latter information about the route conditions (updating it every 40 thousandths of a second) and the distance to any vehicles, whether they are moving in the same direction as the car that moves in reverse.

In turn, the control unit automatically acts on the headlight adjustment when the steering column switch on the steering column is set to (Auto) and the high beam is on.