looking@audi

I just watched this video on Bimmerfest. Do the Audi LED headlights automatically split the beams based on both oncoming traffic and the cars traveling ahead of you?

Awesome feature

benna

Wow! Definitely looks cool. I hope Audi can bring this to the cars with a software update, if thats possible. I have Adaptive headlights, but they lower the beam on the driver side depending on GPS data (i think) or based on oncoming traffic. But it definitely does not do the stuff shown in the video.

DeerHunter

Yes, Audi can do this - in Europe and the rest of the world. As is noted here, North American lighting laws are so antiquated that this technology is not legal here.

Even the current LED headlights are capable of automatically changing the beam pattern, based on GPS inputs, to optimize the pattern for highways, intersections, city streets, etc. But, not for North American models.

Pity!

snagitseven

Yes, definitely a bummer we can't get the GPS controlled lights. It looks like the BMW is fundamentally different though - theirs seem to be based on radar (and possibly lighting sensitivity/awareness?) of other vehicles whereas I believe Audi's system is GPS dependent by road type, intersections, etc. Either way, as you pointed out, BMW might have the same issues as Audi offering this in the U.S.

aquarian

That music... lol.

s5blitzer

We have government officials still living with a 3rd world country mentality.

looking@audi

Interesting - I didn't know this.

Here is a summary of automotive lighting technology from a USA article.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...nhtsa/1973737/

DeerHunter

There are two distinct technologies, Snagitseven. The first is LED lighting, as we currently have here, that adapts the beam pattern to the terrain based on GPS inputs. With some software changes, this could conceivably be enabled on current North American vehicles. The second is Matrix Lighting, which uses cameras to separate the light beams so as to avoid blinding other drivers and pedestrians (very similar in concept, if not execution, to the BMW tech outlined in the above video). Matrix Lighting is brand new and will only be available to the rest of the world in future models.

awryexperiment

Is that why Washington has so much dung piled up everywhere? They haven't grasped the concept of plumbing????

snagitseven

I forgot about the new Matrix light tech from Audi. I wonder if it replaces the GPS based lighting or augments it. In any case, looks like we won't be able get either option here the U.S. in the foreseeable future. Maybe Canada will have more relaxed regs.