Eye Tracking Technology to Make Headlights Interactive

Vauxhaul, a British automaker under the GM umbrella, has spent the last two years working on technology that could completely change the way we drive at night. The system will consist of a cabin-mounted camera and infrared sensors that scan the drivers’ eyes up to 50 times per second. Using this information, the cars headlights can adjust based on the line of sight of the driver.

Their hope is that this technology will make driving at night safer for all motorists. Headlights always point toward the way a car faces, which isn’t necessarily the same way that the car will be heading. This type of technology is an exciting step forward to help drivers see where they are going in the dark.

You may be thinking, “What happens if a driver looks away from the windshield?” Fortunately, Vauxhaul took this under consideration. A sophisticated delay algorithm will ensure that the light movement flows at a suitable pace and doesn’t jolt to either side.

Eye tracking isn’t the only exciting thing about Vauxhaul’s headlights. A forward-facing camera can recognize the lights of other vehicles and adjust the intensity of the lights to prevent annoying other drivers. This is done through a matrix of LED lights. Those in the path of other vehicles will be momentarily deactivated while the others remain on to illuminate the road ahead.
These headlights won’t only be useful at night. Installed sensors can detect tunnels and other daytime events that mandate the need for light.