What is an adaptive headlight?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Adaptive headlights are the result of the rapid development of auto electronics in recent decades. Moreover, the designers got to the head optics quite recently, before that paying all attention to the brake system and suspension. The AFS function, and this is how this option is correctly called, like ABS, and the car's vehicle stability control system, not only makes life easier for the driver, but also makes the trip safer. However, not every average driver knows what adaptive headlights are, which means it makes sense to talk about this in more detail.

What is the AFS function?

It is generally accepted that the adaptive headlight changes the direction of light, depending on the steering wheel. This is true, but worded too narrowly. Optics changes the luminous flux, depending on the traffic situation, not only its direction, but also its intensity, and sometimes even focusing. The headlights themselves "choose" the space that needs to be illuminated, based on the specific conditions prevailing at the moment.

Attemptsto equip cars with "smart", as they were called at that time, headlights, were undertaken as early as the mid-30s of the last century. However, this has become possible only now, and even then on premium cars. For example, the BMW concern has been putting adaptive headlights on its cars only since 2003. All this speaks of the high manufacturability and cost of the option. Indeed, they have in common with traditional optics only their familiar appearance, their design, of course, is completely different.

Device

The main element of the AFS system is the control device. Thanks to its signals, the head optics of the car rotates one degree or another. This happens thanks to information coming from the following devices:

1. Speed sensor.
2. Steering wheel position controller.
3. Stability system, which in this case determines the tilt of the vehicle.
4. Wipers on.
5. Camera detecting pedestrians, obstacles, etc.

Mechanical movement of adaptive headlights is carried out by stepper motors with worm gears. On command from the control device, they rotate in a given direction. The maximum angle of rotation of the headlight on the side to which the steering wheel is turned is 15 degrees.

Optics can be equipped with bi-xenon or LED lamps. Glass must have a lens. This makes it possible to focus or "diffuse"light beam. The camera captures the slightest changes in the traffic situation, including the presence of oncoming cars, and transmits data to the control unit.

How adaptive headlights work

Despite the fact that the AFS system is multifunctional, its main task is to illuminate the road directly in front of the car, in strict interaction with the position of the steering wheel. This means that the optics rotates in the same direction. Thus, during sharp turns, the driver sees not the darkness, but the illuminated space. This is because the adaptive headlights worked much faster than the car itself made the turn.

Thanks to the computer control of the system and the precise movements of the electric motors, the movement of the light flux is very smooth and almost imperceptible to the driver. This means that it does not attract attention and allows you to fully concentrate only on driving. However, the system can also work independently. This is especially felt when driving on roads with a lot of ups and downs.

The fact is that the headlights of the car can also turn vertically, and this happens automatically. If the car is going uphill, the optics go down a little so as not to blind the driver of an oncoming car with its light. When descending, the reverse process is observed, and the depth of the illuminated space increases significantly.

There are times when the driver has to turn the steering wheel not to change direction. This often happens, for example, whendrifts. Moving headlights can lead to the most unpredictable consequences, but this does not happen. The fact is that in such emergency situations, the exchange rate stability system disables AFS, and the optics become motionless. The cornering lights will resume when the skid is cleared.

Another feature of AFS is the lowering of the headlights in a vertical plane when an oncoming vehicle approaches. A similar correction of the head optics occurs when the wipers are turned on. In this case, the light beam is focused at a height of half a meter from the roadway. This prevents the inevitable reflection of light from the droplet "suspension".

Rotation of optics in horizontal and vertical directions occurs from a pre-set neutral position. Despite the large amount of electronics, this operation has to be done manually. For example, the initial adjustment of Ford Focus adaptive headlights is carried out using conventional bolts.

Features of advanced AFS systems

Designers are constantly improving adaptive lighting, giving it new options. BMW-X6 cars are equipped with a proprietary high beam control system. This technology has significantly optimized the use of head optics. BMW adaptive headlights do not just lower when an oncoming vehicle approaches, they are also retracted to the side, at the minimum required angle. Thus, the light beam not only does not blind other road users, but also provides the driverbetter visibility, which is especially valuable in bad weather conditions.

In addition to getting additional options, adaptive headlights are being improved constructively. For example, there is a tendency to replace xenon with LEDs, and this is despite the fact that the first car with such optics (Lexus LS) rolled off the assembly line only in 2008. LED-optics has a number of undoubted advantages, first of all, of course, it is cost-effectiveness and durability. In addition, it is easier to implement the AFS function on it. At the same time, the cost of an adaptive LED headlight is approximately the same as a bi-xenon one.

Pros and cons

Analysis of the above allows us to highlight the following advantages of adaptive optics over conventional:

• good view directly in front of the car;
• lighting the corner before the car enters it;
• helps reduce accidents;
• do not blind the oncoming driver.

There are practically no drawbacks, except for the complexity of the design and rather high cost.

Issue price

Adaptive optics remains an expensive pleasure. Nevertheless, its popularity is growing rapidly, and the world's leading manufacturers have begun to install AFS on their not the most expensive models. In addition, if we take into account the share of adaptive optics in the total price, then it is not so great. For example, when buying a Skoda Superb car, you will have to pay about 60,000 rubles for this option. This amounts toless than 5% of the value of a new machine.

Conclusion

Official statistics claim that cars equipped with the AFS function are much less likely to be involved in an accident. Therefore, the cost is not decisive. Security cannot be valued by any amount of money.