Adaptive Off-Road Lighting via Operator Gaze Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting systems for off-road utility vehicles are not adaptable to the specific needs of these vehicles, particularly in terms of adjusting light intensity and emission characteristics based on the operator's viewing direction, extraneous light effects, and relative positions of other vehicles, leading to inefficient lighting and glare issues.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive lighting system that includes a control unit and illumination device capable of adjusting light intensity and emission characteristics based on the operator's viewing direction, extraneous light effects, and relative positions of other vehicles, using a combination of optical sensing, satellite navigation, and image processing to optimize lighting for the operator's focus and terrain awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the illumination device is adjusted to provide wide coverage for terrain awareness, then the operator's awareness of the surrounding area is improved, but glare is increased for other off-road utility vehicles in the vicinity
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device is divided into multiple independently controllable illumination zones corresponding to different viewing directions. The control unit selectively activates only the illumination zones relevant to the operator's current viewing direction, providing localized illumination rather than uniform wide-area lighting. This reduces glare for other vehicles while maintaining adequate terrain awareness in the operator's field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination characteristics are dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of the operator's viewing direction. As the operator moves their head or eyes, the illumination pattern automatically reconfigures to follow their attention focus. This dynamic adaptation ensures optimal terrain awareness illumination is provided only where needed, minimizing unnecessary glare to surrounding areas and other vehicles.
2Illumination intensity
If the illumination device provides comprehensive lighting of the surrounding area, then the operator's visibility of obstacles and hazards is improved, but energy consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing comprehensive illumination of the entire surrounding area, the system provides partial illumination focused only on the regions where obstacles and hazards are most likely to be encountered based on the operator's viewing direction. The control unit calculates probable obstacle zones and directs illumination selectively to these areas, achieving adequate obstacle visibility with reduced energy consumption compared to omnidirectional lighting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cartographic location information and terrain data to pre-identify areas where obstacles or hazards are likely to be present. Before the operator actually encounters these areas, the illumination device is pre-positioned to provide enhanced lighting in these predicted hazard zones. This preliminary action ensures obstacle visibility is maintained while avoiding energy waste in areas where obstacles are unlikely to exist.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of the illumination range is provided, then the operator can control the lighting to suit specific needs, but the complexity of operation is increased and manual adjustment is inconvenient during off-road usage
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting the operator's viewing direction through optical sensors and camera systems. The control unit processes this information and autonomously configures the illumination pattern without requiring any manual input from the operator. This self-service mechanism maintains high adaptability to different operating conditions while eliminating the inconvenience of manual adjustment during off-road usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the operator's viewing direction through feedback from optical sensors and cameras. This real-time feedback loop allows the control unit to automatically adjust the illumination range and intensity to match the operator's attention focus. The feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to changing operational needs dynamically without manual intervention, combining versatility with ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptive lighting system of an off-road utility vehicle includes an illumination device controllable with respect to its emission characteristic or light intensity, and a control unit in communication with the illumination device. The control unit is configured to adapt the emission characteristic or light intensity level by controlling the illumination device based upon a determined gaze direction of a vehicle operator, an identified extraneous light effects, a determined relative position of an external off-road utility vehicle, or cartographic location information.