Driving at night in a snowstorm or under heavy rain can be very dangerous due to the lack of visibility. Good news: a team of researchers is now working on smart headlights that can basically make rain and snow disappear.
The system uses a digital projector, camera, and 50/50 beam splitter. The camera detects rain drops and creates an image for the computer, which determines the future location of the particles so that the projector can blank them out. The driver's field of vision immediately becomes clearer, and lighting remains adequate.
Since the entire process from capture to reaction takes only 13 milliseconds, drivers won't notice anything unusual, except for an improved sense of safety.
Smart headlights are still undergoing tests. No word yet on a future market release.
The system uses a digital projector, camera, and 50/50 beam splitter. The camera detects rain drops and creates an image for the computer, which determines the future location of the particles so that the projector can blank them out. The driver's field of vision immediately becomes clearer, and lighting remains adequate.
Since the entire process from capture to reaction takes only 13 milliseconds, drivers won't notice anything unusual, except for an improved sense of safety.
Smart headlights are still undergoing tests. No word yet on a future market release.
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| Photo: ILIM laboratory |
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| Photo: ILIM laboratory |