Although a feature frequently encountered on premium cars, adaptive headlights have become enormously popular amongst all the modern-day car drivers

The early cars in the world did not feature headlights because in those times, nobody had access to cars and nobody expected cars to grow into a primary mode of transport. However, cars soon spiralled into a leading mode of transport and companies began to furnish them with additional features to ensure safety for the drivers and passengers. Out of several features, headlights proved to be a critical feature as they granted the drivers to see the roads clearly at night.

The preceding generation's headlights were simple headlights that brightened the forward area. However, car designers realized that those simple headlights were not sufficient. Therefore, designers and engineers gave birth to adaptive headlights.

For those who are not aware of what adaptive headlights are, here’s an example. Imagine you are about to arrive at a bend at midnight. The normal headlights on your automobile will elucidate the forward straight area but the light will not bend with the curving of the highway. In short, it will not brighten the bend of the road until you pass through it. However, with adaptive headlights; the drivers can see the road’s bend even before reaching it.

Adaptive headlights usually are made with the help of complex LEDs instead of traditional bulbs. Inside the headlight casing, the LEDs are mounted on a pivot that moves up to 15 degrees right and left. Three sensors, such as a wheel speed sensor, a yaw sensor and a steering input sensor, are connected to the electronic control unit. The sensors collect data such as speed of the vehicle, angle of the steering and the side movement of the vehicle and sends the data to the ECU. The ECU interprets the data and adjusts the pivot mechanism on which the lights are mounted.

Once the vehicle reaches the corner, the pivot moves left or right and illuminates the corner instead of the straight area. However, there’s one drawback of the adaptive headlights at the moment. The fact that the pivot mechanism can move only 15 degrees may not be enough in those roads where the corners or bends are wider. Although, the piece of technology could further improve road safety and prevent accidents. As per the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S, adaptive headlights could’ve prevented 1,43,000 accidents in 2008.