Audi's new Digital Matrix LED smart headlights project onto roads and walls (video)

Audi presents the first LEDheadlights with a digital matrix that can project an image on the road like a movie projector. The novelty is intended for the company's new electric SUVs.

Electric cars Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportbackwill be equipped with new Digital Matrix LED (DML) headlights that project the image around the vehicle. These will be optional equipment for the production models of the 2021 e-tron and e-tron Sportback electric cars. According to the developers, these will be the world's first serial DML headlights for production cars.

Projection 5 will be available initiallyimages. The DML digital headlight consists of 1.3 million micromirrors and works like a standard movie projector. Using the vehicle's touchscreen display, the driver can select one of five welcome / goodbye projections with a unique text or logo.

However, digital headlights are not just forprojecting text in a parking lot or garage. Using the unique design of the Digital Matrix LED, it will be possible to increase safety when driving in the dark.

The headlights will be able to create a 50-meter "lightcarpet "holding the lighting exactly in front of the moving car. In this case, the "carpet" expands to the side when turning and does not blind the drivers of oncoming traffic.

Curved roadside lighting allowsconsider people and objects located near the track. The frequency of micromirrors adjustment is 5000 times per second. Also, DML headlights "draw" a virtual track in front of the car with arrows, indicating the trajectory of the wheels.

Full DML headlight function is currently availableonly in Europe. In the USA, owners of the e-tron and e-tron Sportback will only be able to use the greeting / goodbye projection. However, Audi says it is working with US regulators to gain certification to fully utilize the smart digital headlight feature.

Source: electrek