With
the goal of improving traffic safety at dusk and in low-light conditions, the
German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) will be sponsoring the
research project “VoLiFa2020” over the next three years.
This
joint effort is working to develop a fully adaptive automobile headlight system
and is being financed under the "Photonics Research Germany"
programme. Project partners include lighting systems manufacturer Hella,
heading the effort, Elmos Semiconductor AG, Merck, the Porsche Engineering
Group, Schweizer Electronic AG and the University of Paderborn. As a team, this
group of contributors possesses the expertise required for all stages of the
project. This was stated in a press release by Hella.
The
latest road accident statistics for Europe show that driving has never been
safer than in 2013. Over the last years, numerous innovations have helped
improve traffic safety significantly. Despite this progress, the risk of a
fatal traffic accident at night or dusk continues to be considerably higher
than during daylight hours.
In
order to increase road users’ safety when driving in low-light conditions, BMBF
will be sponsoring the “VoLiFa2020” project, which is working to develop a
fully adaptive light projection system for intelligent, efficient and safe
vehicle lighting. The BMBF is providing around EUR 2 million (Rs 16 crore)
under the auspices of the "Photonics Research Germany" programme. The
planned system will enable lighting that can intelligently and seamlessly adapt
to various specific driving conditions in almost real-time. Vehicles therefore
will be able to selectively illuminate a wide variety of traffic conditions,
thereby allowing drivers to detect dangerous situations and obstacles much
faster.
The
research consortium, led by the lighting systems manufacturer Hella covers
nearly the entire research and value chain of a headlight system, from
development to the user. While the chemical and pharmaceutical company Merck is
supplying special liquid crystals and thereby laying the foundation to
manufacture the headlight system, the chip and hardware producers Elmos
Semiconductor AG and Schweizer Electronic AG are designing the electronic
components as well as customer-specific circuit boards. Hella is responsible
for developing the optical systems as well as integrating the various
components into an overall system.
In
the truest sense of the phrase, the consumer's point of view plays a key role
in the project “VoLiFa2020”. L-LAB, the research institute for lighting
technology and mechatronics supported by the University of Paderborn, and the
automobile manufacturer Porsche are
drafting the system requirements, taking into account the subjective perceptual
aspects of all road users.
For
those participating in the project, the headlight system being developed offers
a diverse range of potential applications, from use in cars and other classes
of vehicles such as trucks and buses, to the application of individual project
components in other branches of industry. Given the growing volume of traffic,
the increasing need for safety, and the trend toward ever more advanced driver
assistance systems, there will be considerable demand for intelligent lighting
systems.
Besides
the direct application of the research results, the successful completion of
the project also bears significant potential to strengthen Germany’s
technological competitiveness since nearly the entire value chain falls within
its borders.
Source: Hella