AFS ABCs

AFS (Adaptive Front Lighting System) provides optimal illumination in various driving conditions by automatically modifying the beam pattern of the headlighting system in response to vehicle speed, weather conditions and road situations (town, country, motorway). This is achieved with a combination of additional lamps and/or active beam pattern control. There are variations in complexity possible, based on manufacturer preference.

AFS controls the light distribution based on the following-

Road condition change

• Highway- High speed, multi-lane divided road
• Country road- 2 lane road with small radius curves
• City street- Low speed, high traffic with intersections and residential areas

Driving condition change:

• Driving speed
• Presence of oncoming and preceding vehicles, pedestrians

Weather condition change

• Rain, fog, snow, dust storms

Without AFS	With AFS
Citylight
Motorway Light
Adverse Weather Light

Click here to see how AFS works.

Dynamic Bending Light

Without AFS

With AFS

Static and Dynamic Bending Light

Static bending light is made up of fixed light sources that are turned on/off during slow-speed sharp turns. They are in addition to the headlamp system and provide greater side visibility for these situations. Sensors monitoring speed, steering wheel angle, etc provide input control for the static bending feature. On a left-hand turn, only the left-hand lamp(s) is energized and for a right-hand turn, only the right-hand lamp(s) is energized.

Dynamic bending automatically moves the headlamp beam pattern laterally right/left based on sensor input (speed, steering wheel angle, road curvature, etc.). This feature can be applied to both low beam and high beam.

Citylight

Citylight is activated at speeds below 60km/h (37 mph) and provides additional illumination of intersections, sidewalks and pedestrians by lowering headlamp aim and increasing the horizontal spread. Citylight provides improved obstacle detection such as pedestrians, sidewalks and curbs in high traffic and poorly lit areas (residential neighborhoods).

Motorway Lighting

Motorway lighting provides additional seeing distance by dynamically raising the headlamp beam pattern slightly higher without glaring the oncoming traffic. Motorway lighting is activated at speeds only above 80km/h (50 mph).

Adverse Weather Lighting

Adverse Weather Lighting provides improved visibility during inclement weather conditions such as rain, fog, snow and dust storms. This feature is achieved by lowering the headlamp aim and providing more side lighting. Adverse Weather Lighting can be activated through sensors or with a manual control switch.

Benefits of AFS

Improved Visibility

• Increases seeing distance
• Improved reaction time
• Pedestrian detection
• Improved detection of road features (curbs, rails, road lines and markings…)
• Earlier obstacle detection
• Earlier recognition of signage (over-head and road-side)
• Improved Collision Avoidance
• Increases peripheral view

A static or dynamic bending light provides illumination specifically in the areas of concern that the driver needs to focus on. For slow speed turns, the driver is able to see a much wider view of the turn and therefore see curbs, pedestrians and obstacles. For higher speed situations, the driver is able to get a much better preview of the road ahead, and therefore react more quickly.

Increased Comfort

• Reduction in driver workload results in fatigue reduction
• Enhances attention to the road
• Reduced glare to oncoming traffic

Appearance to opposing drivers

Research studies show, that dynamic bending light is not noticeable by oncoming drivers. Regardless of the direction of the turn, the oncoming driver would have difficulty to identify whether or not the oncoming driver has an AFS system. This is due to the maximum limitations of the swiveling angles for the headlamp.

Videos

This video demonstrates how AFS works from the driver's view as well as showing how the light adapts and maneuvers to obtain the greatest illuminated area. Click here to view . 

This video demonstrates on a side-by-side basis the difference between AFS and traditional lighting and measures the reaction time of an accident that could have been prevented. Click here to view.