Opel Insignia: New Generation Lighting Adapts to Visibility and Road Conditions

[Toto]

Opel was the first automaker to introduce the dynamic curve light and 90-degree cornering light with the innovative Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) to the mid-size class in 2003. In 2004, the dynamic curve light was presented in the compact class for the first time with the Opel Astra. Opel democratized this safety technology even further in 2006 when it offered the Meriva and Corsa with bi-halogen-based curve and cornering light for the first time in the compact vehicle segment. Opel has been a pioneer in automotive lighting technology for years, and now presents its next, even more intelligent AFL generation.

The new generation AFL automatically adjusts headlamp beam distribution to the prevailing road profile and visibility conditions. The system features nine lighting functions and debuts in the Opel Insignia. The new mid-size Opel, which makes its world premiere in July 2008 at the London Motor Show, boasts LED daytime running lamps that require less electricity (and therefore fuel) than using main low beam headlamps during the day. The new lighting graphics make the Insignia unmistakable by night or day for all road users.

Overview of nine lighting functions on left-hand drive vehicles:

· At speeds under 50 km/h, the Town Light provides a wider, beam with reduced range. This helps the driver see pedestrians at the edge of the road better.
· The Pedestrian Area Light is for zones where the driver must exercise extreme caution. It is activated at speeds between five and 30 km/h, and adjusts the cone of light for both headlamps by eight degrees toward each roadside. This function helps the driver see children playing next to the road earlier.
· The Country Road Light provides a brighter and more wide-ranging beam to the sides of the road than a conventional low beam. It is activated between 50 and 100 km/h.
· The Highway Light creates a cone of light that illuminates the road ahead and the left-hand roadside better. An increase in electrical output from 35 to 38 watts also provides a noticeable improvement in visibility. The Highway Light activates automatically above 100 km/h, but only when the steering angle sensor indicates that the road’s curve radii do not match that of a country road.
· The Adverse Weather Light is activated during rain or snow when the rain sensor recognizes rain or the windshield wipers are switched on. This light function varies both the headlamp beams’ distribution pattern and its various outputs. The headlamp beam distribution is directed more toward the roadsides (slightly less to the left) to make the guiding lines easier to see. As the left headlamp beam output is reduced from 35 to 32 watts, the risk of blinding oncoming traffic is also minimized. Conventional headlamp beams are often irritating to oncoming traffic in such weather conditions, as the beams reflect off the wet road surface. The right headlamp beam output is increased from 35 to 38 watts to further improve the driver’s visibility.
· The Static Cornering Light (already included in the current AFL generation) illuminates an area to the right or left of the vehicle up to an angle of 90 degrees, making maneuvering easier in poorly illuminated areas, such as on dark access roads. It is activated at speeds below 40 km/h either by a large steering angle or by the turn indicators.
· The Dynamic Curve Light (already included in the current AFL generation) ensures improved illumination in curves. Curve Light’s bi-xenon headlamps shine at up to 15° right and left of the vehicle into the oncoming curve. The Curve Light angle is determined by the car’s speed and steering angle.
· The High Beam Light (already included in the current AFL generation) provides maximum headlamp beam output and range. Rather than beam asymmetrically, the High Beam Light optimally illuminates the full width of the road. The headlamps’ output also increases from 35 to 38 watts.
· The ninth function is the High Beam Light Assistant, which is both an innovation in this segment and offers a considerable safety advantage when driving in darkness. The Assistant automatically activates the High Beam Light for better road illumination and therefore improved visibility. The system’s camera recognizes the headlamps or tail lights of other vehicles and automatically switches the headlamps to low beam when required to prevent blinding other road users.

More at the link: http://www.gmeurope.info/social_medi...onditions.html

[BigAls87Z28]

Wow, I hope we get something like this. This sounds pretty cool, and a great saftey feature for Saturn to use in the future. Lets hope that even all of GM starts to use this technology. Id like to see the Escalade Hybrid, with its LED headlights use a technology like this.

[jkennedy293]

Very innovative technology. I'm impressed with the amount of innovation and technology that can be applied to something as simple as a headlight.

[igor]

very innovative no doubt - too bad not even Cadillac will see anything like this for years and years in the US. it is amazing how much more progressive EU consumers are in valuing safety technology compared to the US consumers.

Igor

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by igor

very innovative no doubt - too bad not even Cadillac will see anything like this for years and years in the US. it is amazing how much more progressive EU consumers are in valuing safety technology compared to the US consumers.

Igor

Yes, but we'd pitch a fit because of the increased price if it were included as a standard feature.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Wow, I hope we get something like this. This sounds pretty cool, and a great saftey feature for Saturn to use in the future. Lets hope that even all of GM starts to use this technology. Id like to see the Escalade Hybrid, with its LED headlights use a technology like this.

*smirk*
What will the Germans think of next!! And why Cadillac hasn't hopped onto this bandwagon is beyond me.

[MaxLegroom]

Originally Posted by igor

very innovative no doubt - too bad not even Cadillac will see anything like this for years and years in the US. it is amazing how much more progressive EU consumers are in valuing safety technology compared to the US consumers.

Igor

Then there's the matter of American ambulance chasers. The tendency to sue at the drop of a hat, which has been known to delay the introduction of safety features in this country. We could have had ABS sooner than we got it, if I recall correctly, because of this.

[GMforME]

because its brand new. Its part of a brand new electrical arcitecture to be spread throughout all GM's new global products. And yes North america is part of the design staff dedicated to it.

Let me add this. Yes opels of prior years had an implementation of this technology but it was not to the level being described for introduction on epII, not even close. And there are some caddies that have adaptive forward lighting on them now. The previous gen which was all housed in the headlamp assembly. This new system is totally different.

[jokuvaan]

I hope there's override switch because for example there isnt enough computing power nor GPSmap+radar+laser processing capability to use "High Beam Light Assistant" in complex, twisting enviroment in a way I want to use it.

[paul8488]

Another good idea for Cadillac would be a light-sensing camera that projects an impage on your windshield of objects way ahead, out of sight... they could call it something like NightVision... I bet people would fight to get to pay for an option like that...

[prototype66]

I hope this makes it into Eppi II in NA
That would be great as an added safety feature , may even effect insurence rates!

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Another good idea for Cadillac would be a light-sensing camera that projects an impage on your windshield of objects way ahead, out of sight... they could call it something like NightVision... I bet people would fight to get to pay for an option like that...

Oh wait!!

Didn't Cadillac have something like that before? And they put it on the least attractive car in their lineup and didn't sell any beyond the first year?? I think they gave up on it, thinking the product sucked, when in actuality, it was the car that blew chunks!!

[blaksabb]

The idea is not new. GM showed lighting diagrams a few years back when other manufactures started offering directional headlights.

I thought the idea was pretty cool and it didn't seem too complicated; similar to twisting the housing on a Mag-Lite to change the shape of the beam.

I wish I could find a picture of the schematic... it was from 3-4yrs ago.

[CobaltSScrazy]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Oh wait!!

Didn't Cadillac have something like that before? And they put it on the least attractive car in their lineup and didn't sell any beyond the first year?? I think they gave up on it, thinking the product sucked, when in actuality, it was the car that blew chunks!!

"2" "Shay" lol.

You would think GMNA would get some of these advancements! Like simultaneously timewise.

CobaltSScrazy

[prototype66]

Originally Posted by blaksabb

The idea is not new. GM showed lighting diagrams a few years back when other manufactures started offering directional headlights.

I thought the idea was pretty cool and it didn't seem too complicated; similar to twisting the housing on a Mag-Lite to change the shape of the beam.

I wish I could find a picture of the schematic... it was from 3-4yrs ago.

That is a neat idea Larry, I wonder if it is sort of like what they use on the new Enclave. (not sure)