Traditional headlights are designed to illuminate the road ahead and whatever lies on it, but they are not necessarily the best tools for spotting people walking along the side of the road. Ford has recognized the risk this poses and has begun experimenting with integrated infrared cameras that can detect the body heat of pedestrians and tell a pair of smart headlights where to point their beams.
The Problem
Unfortunately, we have all heard too many stories of pedestrians and cyclists ending up dead or seriously injured because a driver did not see them in time while they moved along the roadside. Night only increases the danger, and every prevention campaign has its limits. There will always be someone on the road, either out of necessity or because it is the only time they have available. One of the issues behind this serious situation is the division of responsibility. People walking along the roadside expect the driver to 'see them' regardless of the hour or the available light, while the driver imagines the pedestrian taking extra precautions, such as wearing a fluorescent safety jacket or carrying a simple flashlight.
Ford's Solution
Ford has a proposal: let technology take care of it. Thanks to the work of its Research and Innovation Center in Aachen, Ford has managed to implement some very interesting features in one of its cars. First, the new system is capable of dynamically illuminating an unexpected curve if it has additional information such as maps and GPS. Second, an infrared camera can detect pedestrians or wild animals moving along the side of the road, or directly on it. If the camera detects something, it orders one of the smart headlights to throw its light onto the target, as well as highlighting its position with a box on an internal screen.
Ford's engineers say the system can provide two or three extra seconds to maneuver and avoid an accident. For now, the company says it is a prototype, but it hopes to develop a commercial version in the short term. In short, a driver cannot avoid what they cannot see. The combination of infrared camera and smart headlights aims to change that and make roads safer for everyone involved.
Official announcement: Read the official announcement on Ford's social site
