Lighting in the Automotive Industry
Researchers at the LRC are exploring ways to effectively illuminate light fixtures inside and outside of automobiles, including signaling devices. Some of the projects completed to date include exploring -- and minimizing -- headlight glare for oncoming traffic as well as specialized lighting for snowplows.
Highlighted Projects
Public has yet to fully embrace new headlamp technologies
In the past few years, automobile headlamps have gone through a great deal of transformations in the marketplace, from the advent of high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps to the passing of legislation, such as the “wipers on, lights on” laws that are now common in many states. Despite these innovations, it is unclear whether the public sees this evolution in automobile headlamps as positive.
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LED beacon lights on maintenance trucks are safe, economical alternatives to traditional rotating beacons
The next time you drive past a construction zone on a highway, you may notice that more highway maintenance trucks are using light emitting diode (LED) flashing beacons instead of traditional incandescent rotating beacons. A recent study by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center (LRC), sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), has shown that LED beacon lights use less power without compromising safety.
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Visual Performance from Automobile Headlamps Along High-speed Curves
Researchers at the LRC examined the impact of headlamp intensity on visual detection of small targets when entering high-speed curves. Results show that the relationship between headlamp intensity and visual performance depends upon the target's location and the amount of light on the target.
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Method to Reduce Glare and Maintain Maximum Roadway Visbility
Scientists at the LRC developed a method, called the Prime Beam, designed to work in conjunction with sensors to maximize visibility with high-beam headlights. It works by removing the precise angular region of the headlamp beam pattern that creates glare for oncoming drivers.
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Improving Pedestrian Safety with HID Headlamps
A study examining the stopping distances under different headlamp illumination conditions suggests that HID headlamps have a greater “safety margin,” or mean stopping distance, than halogen headlamps.
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Recovery and Discomfort from Oncoming Headlamps
Glare from oncoming traffic seems to be a big complaint from drivers, but does glare really make the roads more hazardous? Researchers investigate recovery time and discomfort caused by oncoming headlights.
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The following lists include articles and presentations on related subjects.
Forward Lighting: Visibility
- Visibility Characteristics of Spectrally-Tuned HID Headlamps
- Dynamic Lighting Conditions and Visibility
- Visibility and Headlamp Performance on High-Speed Curves
- Headlamp Intensity and Curves
- Spectral Effects of LED Headlamps
- Optimizing Headlamps for Visibility and Comfort
- Headlamp Illumination and Glare: An Approach to Predicting Peripheral Visibility
- Spectral Effects of High-Intensity Discharge Automotive Forward Lighting on Visual Performance
- Visual Benefits of Blue Coated Lamps for Automotive Forward Lighting
- Visual Benefits of HID Automotive Forward Lighting
- Color Preferences of Road Sign Materials
- Evaluation of HID Automotive Forward Lighting
- Evaluation of High Intensity Discharge Lighting
- Modeling Peripheral Visibility under Headlamp Illumination
Forward Lighting: Glare
- Sensitivity Analysis of Headlamp Parameters Affecting Visibility and Glare
- Investigation of Safety-Based Advanced Forward-Lighting Concepts to Reduce Glare
- Nighttime Glare and Driving Performance: Research Findings
- Nighttime Glare and Driving Performance: Report to Congress
- NHTSA Headlight Glare Workshop Presentations
- Headlamp Parameters and Glare
- 2003 Transportation Research Board Workshop - Glare and Nighttime Roadway Visibility
- Discomfort Glare from Headlamps: Interactions Among Spectrum, Control of Gaze and Background Light Level
- Discomfort and Disability Glare from Halogen and HID Headlamp Systems
- Effect of Oncoming Headlight Glare on Peripheral Detection
- Shedding Light on Glare
- An Investigation of Headlamp Glare: Intensity, Spectrum and Size
Forward Lighting: Inclement Weather
- Snowplow Lighting Research
- Driving in Snow: Effect of Headlamp Color
- Vehicular Lighting and Inclement Weather Conditions
- Lighting on Snowplows: An Accident Countermeasure?
- Improved Visibility for Snow Plowing Operations
Rear Lighting
- Evaluation of Light-Emitting Diode Beacon Light Fixtures
- Effects of Sweeping, Color and Luminance Distribution
- Evaluation of Automotive Stop Lamps
- Rear Lighting for Winter Maintenance Vehicles.
Automotive Display Lighting
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