Mercedes' Futuristic Headlights Shine Warning Symbols On the Road (gizmodo.com)

In its new high-end vehicles, Daimler says it will introduce programmable, "million-pixel" headlights that project warning symbols and driving tips on the road. "The technology, which Daimler calls Digital Light, was demoed as a concept ten years ago, but at the Geneva Motor Show it's finally being introduced as a feature that's 'expected' to be available on certain Mercedes-Maybach S-Class vehicles sometime this year," reports Gizmodo. From the report: Sitting alongside the vehicle's standard headlights are a pair of small monochrome projectors that each feature "a resolution of over one million pixels," Daimler claims, resulting in an "HD-quality" image being projected onto the road surface ahead of the vehicle. Using data from the car's onboard sensors, as well as traffic and obstacle data that GPS devices rely on, the headlights project symbols like a snowflake indicating slippery conditions ahead, a construction symbol reminding drivers to slow down for road workers, arrows for where to turn, and even simple white lines representing the size of your vehicle so you can immediately tell if you're able to squeeze into a narrow parking spot. The ability to selectively switch off pixels means the S-Class' headlights could help drivers avoid blinding oncoming vehicles or pedestrians, as onboard sensors detect faces and windshields and automatically dim the brightness in those areas.

Comments

Can it show texts?

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

I find it so cumbesome to fish out my phone to read texts, especially at highway speeds. It would be great if this feature will project incoming text messages. Also can it stream Netflix. I have seen the road many times, and there is no plot interest in the road or scenery. Would be great to have something interesting to watch other the road when I am driving.

Re: Can it show texts?

[Anonymous Coward]

But then other motorists will read your sexting and see your junk.

Re: Can it show texts?

[sabbede]

Duh, that's the whole point.

Re: Can it show texts?

[postbigbang]

Watch this get turned into political messages, bad bumper sticker clones, and worse: advertising.

And for those that shine dick pics: make sure the finish of your car can be protected from deep key scratches. I sadly know a couple of people who wouldn't hesitate..... or cut you off with millimeters to spare.

Re:Can it show texts?

[stealth_finger]

No, but it will probably display ads.

Re: Can it show texts?

[postbigbang]

If you don't know two crazy people in your circle of friends and acquaintances, your life is dull. Fortunately, the ones I know aren't armed.

Re: Can it show texts?

[K. S. Kyosuke]

Come on, obviously Frogger should be first. You can even have real-life 3D obstacles in the scene!

Re: Can it show texts?

[edtice1559]

Maybe there's a way I could use this feature to give advice to other drivers. Like "Hey, slow down idiot" or "Next time use a turn signal." I'm sure that would go over well.

Re:Can it show texts?

[PolygamousRanchKid]

I have seen the road many times, and there is no plot interest in the road or scenery. Would be great to have something interesting to watch other the road when I am driving.

Hey, with this technology, you can project pictures of pedestrians who aren't there right in your oncoming path. If you are skillful enough to "hit" them . . . you will get points!

Turn your boring drive to work into "Death Race 2000" . . . !

Re: Can it show texts?

[sabbede]

Being able to project a message to the car in front of me is a long standing dream of mine. Something like, "It's 55mph here idiot", or "Put down your phone fuckwad". Also the bit about turn signals you mentioned.

Re: Broadcasting to others what you see.

[Anonymous Coward]

You should be letting other drivers know where you are going anyway, it's called using a turn signal.

Re: Broadcasting to others what you see.

[jellomizer]

I was thinking more about stay straight for 30 miles. Then turn right you have reached your destination.

Turn signals are to tell people what you are going to be doing with your car. Vs telling where you car wants to be. Also this could give confusing information if the car says turn right and you decide to ignore that particular GPS request so the onlookers don't know if you just didn't use your turn signal, or you are going straight.

We need new headlight regulation

[hackertourist]

Current regulations are in the shape of 'no more than 55W (assuming halogen and ignoring more efficient lighting options that would produce far more light at that power level), light bundled in shape X'.
As a result, modern headlight systems are usually fine when viewed from straight ahead, but become uncomfortably bright when viewed from an angle (encountering such a vehicle on a curvy road, or cresting a hill). All too often I can't see shit because of that.

Re:We need new headlight regulation

[sabbede]

I wouldn't mind some lumen limits. I've been blinded too many times myself.

Re:We need new headlight regulation

[mjwx]

I wouldn't mind some lumen limits. I've been blinded too many times myself.

Brightness isn't the problem. It's vehicle height and headlight adjustment (as well as lazy people driving with their high beams on). Too many vehicles are being made stupidly high in the SUV craze but don't have their headlights adjusted downwards to prevent blinding drivers in normal sized cars. Manufacturers don't do this because it would make their vehicles unsafe to drive at night and lets face it, SUV drivers are terrible at the best of time.

Re:We need new headlight regulation

[laurencetux]

    " ' Brightness isn't the problem. It's vehicle height and headlight adjustment (as well as lazy people driving with their high beams on).'

You don't see the self-contradiction? Brightness *is* a problem. I'm blinded far more frequently by low slung go-fasties with those gods damned high power blue lights."

I would submit to the court that the problem of the HeadLight Brightness is related to the problem of the (lack of) Driver Brightness.

Re: Broadcasting to others what you see.

[shortscruffydave]

You should be letting other drivers know where you are going anyway, it's called using a turn signal.

The car in question is a Mercedes - your argument is invalid

Why is this better than HUD?

[froggyjojodaddy]

This is really bizarre. I'm not sure why projecting onto the road is better than using tried-and-true technology like HUD (Heads up Display). Surely it would be better to project warnings etc. via HUD vs. onto the road? I have a HUD in my BMW and it is one of those technologies that I found genuinely useful and non-obtrusive.

For example, it shows turn by turn directions projected onto my windscreen, so I don't have to move my eyes or head. The location is just perfect and doesn't obstruct anything.

Would be great if we could understand the rationale Daimler used to project vs. HUD. I'm sure there's a reason, I just can't figure out what it would be.

Re: Why is this better than HUD?

[jgdnavy]

A proper HUD will be optically collimated so that the focal length is infinity, negating the need to refocus.

Re:Why is this better than HUD?

[turp182]

This is a feature that it says will be limited to the Maybach line of vehicles.

They start at $160,000 USD.

They have to find new features to add in order to keep the cars attractive to prospective buyers.

And they have to do this year after year to make existing customers interested as well.

Probably won't fly in the USA

[Khyber]

We have laws regarding public address systems in vehicles, the ability to broadcast images on the road will probably be similarly regulated and this feature won't make it into American cars for the same reasons PA systems are banned in non-emergency vehicles.