- The possibility of Ford advancing headlights to track the direction the driver is looking
- Opel, previously under GM’s ownership, was exploring similar technology back in 2015
- Recent changes in U.S. headlight regulations to accommodate modern systems
Ford might be in the process of creating headlights that would trail a driver’s glance.
As per a patent application disclosed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 11, initially filed by Ford in the beginning of 2023, the automaker describes adjustable headlights that would alter their direction based on the driver’s gaze.
Ford adaptive lighting patent image
Automakers like Subaru already have headlights that can turn in response to steering, but Ford sees value in this feature even on straight road stretches where the vehicle isn’t negotiating a turn, but the driver may require additional side illumination. This can aid in revealing potential obstacles or assist when the car is positioned in the middle or left lane of a multi-lane road, Ford points out.
Object-detection systems may also serve this purpose, yet they could fall short in identifying certain objects like small animals, Ford mentions in the application. While eye-tracking and head-movement-tracking systems exist, Ford notes that individually they might be overly sensitive, detecting unnecessary movements.
Ford adaptive lighting patent image
Ford’s approach involves merging eye tracking with head-movement tracking to confirm that the driver is genuinely focusing in a specific direction, rather than continuously scanning the road ahead or moving their head while keeping their gaze fixed. Sensors will detect particular cues, such as the driver looking through the windshield towards the road and full head rotation in alignment with the eye direction, before adjusting the headlights.
This concept is not entirely new. In 2015, during GM’s ownership, Opel revealed its interest in similar technology. Implementing adaptive headlights that synchronize with the driver’s eye movement could be more feasible in Opel’s primary market of Europe compared to the U.S., where recent regulatory changes only permitted the utilization of contemporary matrix headlights, a long-standing feature in Europe.
