Are LEDs the Future of Autos? Mercedes Think So
At the back end of June, Mercedes release the first official pictures of the brand new Mercedes-Benz 2015 CLS Coupe and, to our amazement; the headlines didn't revolve around the engine, the breaking system, the style, the speed or the looks, but the lights!
What’s So Revolutionary?
The new Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe has headlights that are set to revolutionise the automotive industry. The new multibeam LED headlamps and high beam fixtures are designed solely to enhance the light emitted by the vehicle, easing the driving experience at night. Each light has 24 individual LED chips and, what’s more, each of these can be controlled electronically and independently from the others.
All in all, the lights have 4 individual control units which work in tandem with a camera positioned directly behind the windscreen and, in turn, provide information which allows the system to calculate the best possible light dispersion pattern for the driver. Sound impressive? Well, doing it once would be enough, but these headlights do that 100 times every single second and, at high speeds, they’re already planning 0.3 miles in front.
Multibeam LED lights look set to completely revolutionise the car industry, and the benefits do not stop there. Additional modules on each low-beam headlamp can swivel outwards by 12 degrees, offering the driver an “anticipatory camera-based active light function". Plus, if that’s not enough technology for your LED lights, Mercedes once more take it a step further, with a navigation-based light function for roundabouts that activates the cornering light function to the left and right before entering a circular intersection.
What Does the Future Hold For LED Headlights?
Well, as amazing (and ground breaking) as all of this technology might be, Intelligent Light Systems have been available to customers since 2010. This, however, is far more advanced than the majority on offer and, as a result, as the boundaries continue to be pushed, the strive for more effective lighting continues; only enhancing road safety.
Of course, for the majority of the public, the CLS Coupe is simply unaffordable, but the continual advancement of this technology seems to suggest that, within a decade, it could become the average family car, revolutionising the way we all drive.
As part of this, who knows what the next advancement in automotive LED light technology may be. Will lights change to reflect where the driver is looking? Or will they auto-dim as other cars approach? It’s impossible to know, but we can’t wait to find out.