福特公司正在研發(fā)一種基于攝像頭的高級照明系統(tǒng)，該技術(shù)可在車輛行駛到岔路和環(huán)島的時(shí)候，自動(dòng)拓寬近光燈的光束。同時(shí)，福特還在研發(fā)由紅外線圖像激發(fā)的定向照明技術(shù)，可照亮道路前方的行人和大型動(dòng)物。此外，福特還將研發(fā)一種與GPS相連的智能照明系統(tǒng)。
“我們相信，福特新系統(tǒng)的優(yōu)勢將超越市場上的任何產(chǎn)品，” Michael Koherr表示，他是位于德國亞琛的福特歐洲研發(fā)創(chuàng)新中心的一名照明系統(tǒng)工程師。
福特汽車正在考慮組建一個(gè)“創(chuàng)意庫”，為將來建設(shè)高性價(jià)比的生產(chǎn)系統(tǒng)收集創(chuàng)新的想法。
實(shí)現(xiàn)這一價(jià)值，需要使用公司現(xiàn)有的照明系統(tǒng)，但必須輔以優(yōu)化的軟件。Koherr解釋道：“我們已經(jīng)有用于車道保持、行人偵測和路標(biāo)識別的前視攝像頭了?，F(xiàn)在我們正在為攝像頭設(shè)計(jì)一種特殊的算法。這樣終端用戶所必須支付的成本就相對較低了，因?yàn)槲覀冎饕邪l(fā)的是作動(dòng)器軟件。”
“在環(huán)島地帶，我們的光束擴(kuò)展系統(tǒng)可以讓駕駛員看清出口，以防撞上過馬路的自行車和行人，”他補(bǔ)充道。
紅外線定向照明系統(tǒng)還處于前期研發(fā)階段，前格柵中安裝的一個(gè)攝像頭可以同時(shí)偵測多達(dá)8個(gè)潛在威脅（包括人和大型動(dòng)物），偵測距離最大可達(dá)120米。
接著，聚光燈可以照亮2個(gè)威脅目標(biāo)，用霧燈旁邊的兩盞LED燈在地上投射出一塊光斑和一條光帶。這些被照亮的物體將會(huì)同時(shí)顯示在車載資訊系統(tǒng)的屏幕上，并根據(jù)其遠(yuǎn)近和危險(xiǎn)程度用紅色或黃色的框標(biāo)出。
與GPS相連的攝像系統(tǒng)同樣處于研發(fā)階段。該系統(tǒng)擁有學(xué)習(xí)功能，這意味著車輛先前駕駛過的線路信息可以輸入系統(tǒng)，累積成一個(gè)知識庫。當(dāng)車輛第二次通過這條線路的時(shí)候，根據(jù)預(yù)測到的道路彎曲與陡坡等特征，車輛的照明系統(tǒng)將啟動(dòng)最佳的照明強(qiáng)度與相關(guān)功能。“駕駛員通過某條道路的次數(shù)越多，數(shù)據(jù)也會(huì)變得越精確。” Koherr補(bǔ)充道。
福特已經(jīng)開始使用這一高級照明系統(tǒng)，并且還將在此基礎(chǔ)上添加新功能，其中包括動(dòng)態(tài)LED前大燈。這是一種將完整的LED系統(tǒng)與適應(yīng)性前大燈結(jié)合起來的技術(shù)。它可以根據(jù)駕駛環(huán)境調(diào)整前大燈的光束角度與強(qiáng)度。它也可以根據(jù)車速、環(huán)境光照條件、轉(zhuǎn)向角度、前方距離與擋風(fēng)玻璃雨刮器的活動(dòng)等信息選擇照明方案，共有7種設(shè)定可以選擇。
福特汽車還為適應(yīng)性LED燈研發(fā)了無眩光高光束技術(shù)。該技術(shù)可以在檢測到迎面而來的車輛，而后通過有效調(diào)節(jié)近光燈亮度，以避免強(qiáng)光影響對方司機(jī)視線，但在除此以外的其他情況下可以保持最大限度的照明。
福特為非適應(yīng)性LED燈研發(fā)的“自動(dòng)高光束控制技術(shù)”則可以在檢測到迎面而來的車輛后，自動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)換至較暗的光束。
作者：Stuart Birch
來源：SAE 《汽車工程雜志》
Ford researches 'intelligent' lighting systems
Ford is developing a camera-based advanced technology lighting system that can automatically widen dipped beams at road junctions and roundabouts. The company is also researching infrared image triggered spotlighting to illuminate pedestrians and large animals in the road ahead. An intelligent GPS linked system is on Ford’s illuminating research technology list, too.
“We believe our new systems will offer more than others on the market,” said Michael Koherr, Lighting Systems Engineer at Ford of Europe’s Research and Innovation Center at Aachen, Germany.
Ford is currently considering what he terms “a pool of ideas” that could lead to possible value-for-money production systems.
Achieving that value will be partly via the use of the company’s existing off-the-shelf lighting systems but with enhanced software capability. Explained Koherr: “We already have forward-view cameras for lane keeping, pedestrian detection, and traffic sign recognition. Now we are developing a special algorithm for the camera system. The cost to the end user will be relatively low because the main area of development is the actuator software.
“At roundabouts, our beam widening system helps the driver to clearly see the exits and check if cyclists and pedestrians are crossing the road,” he added.
The spotlighting IR system, which is now in pre-development phase, uses a camera positioned in the front grille of the car that can simultaneously track up to eight potential hazards (people and/or large animals) at a maximum range of up 120 m (395 ft).
The spotlight can then illuminate two hazards, placing a spot and a stripe on the road surface, illuminated by two LED lamps positioned adjacent to the car’s fog lights. These highlighted objects are simultaneously displayed on the car’s infotainment screen, marked (according to proximity and perceived danger) in a red or yellow frame.
The GPS linked camera system, now being researched, has a learning capability. Information about previously driven routes builds up a stored knowledge base. When a route is driven more than once, the car’s lighting system can anticipate bends and specific features such as sudden dips, to activate optimum lighting levels and functions. “The more a driver travels a particular road, the more accurate the data becomes,” added Koherr.
The advanced lighting systems already used by Ford, and on which the new capabilities will be based, include dynamic LED headlights, which combine full LED systems via adaptive front lighting. This adjusts the headlight beam angle and intensity to match the driving environment. The system can choose one of seven settings dependent on vehicle speed, ambient lighting conditions, steering angle, distance to the vehicle ahead, and windshield wiper activation.
Ford also offers glare-free high beam technology for the adaptive LED lights, which detects vehicles ahead and reduces light (effectively dipping) that could dazzle oncoming drivers, but provide maximum illumination outside that sector.
Ford’s Auto High Beam Control for non-adaptive LED lights detects oncoming vehicles and automatically switches to dipped beam.
Author: Stuart Birch
Source: SAE Automotive Engineering Magazine
福特照明系統(tǒng)的工程師Michael Koherr表示，他們正在考慮組建一個(gè)“創(chuàng)意庫”，用于研發(fā)高性價(jià)比的高級照明技術(shù)。
未來照明系統(tǒng)的研發(fā)，將成為位于德國亞琛的福特歐洲研發(fā)創(chuàng)新中心的重頭戲。