Opel Showcases AI - Powered Light Communication in Autonomous Vehicles

• Pioneer in lighting innovations: Sophisticated headlight systems already available in numerous Opel models
• In-house creation: Team in Rüsselsheim creates unique demonstrator car with signature lighting innovations
• Ongoing cooperation: Opel, Stellantis and the TU Darmstadt have been conducting joint research into new lighting technologies since 2022

At this year’s International Symposium on Automotive Lighting (ISAL), which is currently taking place in Darmstadt until September 24, Opel, Stellantis and the Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt) are present with a special Opel Grandland. The test vehicle demonstrates how SAE Level 3-capable (hands-off, eyes-off) autonomous vehicles could communicate with other road users via lighting systems in future.

Making pioneering lighting technologies available to customers is a long-standing tradition at Opel. Opel’s lighting innovations currently available in various models with the Blitz include:

•  Intelli-LED: featured in Opel Corsa, Mokka and Frontera
•  Intelli-Lux Matrix: available in Opel Corsa, Mokka, and Combo
•  Intelli-Lux Pixel Light: showcased in Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer
•  Intelli-Lux HD Light: debuting in all-new Opel Grandland

At Opel, lighting innovation goes beyond enhancing visibility: it’s about creating safer, smarter interactions on the road. At the International Symposium on Automotive Lighting in Darmstadt, Philipp Röckl, Global Lead Lighting at Stellantis, and Julisa Le, Lead Innovation Engineer, will present a forward-looking concept: how autonomous vehicles can use light to communicate with pedestrians and other road users. To bring this idea to life, the team collaborated with the Opel Concept Workshop and students from TU Darmstadt to develop a unique Opel Grandland demonstrator.

“Headlights clearly play an important part in increasing road safety – but modern lighting systems are capable of so much more. For example, lighting signatures can easily be animated and used for animations. And the illuminated Blitz on the Opel Grandland can be substituted by a display that can both show the illuminated emblem and be used to communicate with other road users and pedestrians. By using existing lighting elements, it makes it easy to add communication features once we will introduce autonomous driving features in our cars” said Röckl.

To demonstrate what cars of the future could be capable of, the team first defined the use cases, those being ‘possible danger from a pedestrian or other situation’ and ‘the situation is safe and the danger from a pedestrian is no longer present’. In simpler terms, this represents situations that most motorists have encountered such as a child chasing a ball onto the road or a pedestrian emerging from between two parked cars. With this in mind, the team then fitted the Opel Grandland with a camera system for object and gesture detection, as well as intention prediction using artificial intelligence. And then set about refining the lighting systems.

When operating in SAE Level 3 or higher, the front and rear indicators of the Opel Grandland permanently shine in cyan – giving a clear signal to other road users. At the same time, the remaining signature lighting remains in the usual white. When the camera systems detect a pedestrian in the path of the vehicle, the signature lighting changes to magenta and the display shows a warning signal in the same colour thus visually notifying the pedestrian the car is approaching. At the same time, the vehicle begins to decelerate. 

Once the Opel Grandland has come to standstill, the signature lighting changes to green and the display shows a green walking figure known from pedestrian crossing lights to indicate that the car has recognised the danger, come to a halt and that the pedestrian can now cross. In the event that the situation cannot be managed by the AI algorithm, the driver is prompted to take control of the vehicle, in line with industry standards for ADAS protocols.

“We specifically chose colours that are not already associated with other vehicle functions to avoid misunderstandings. For example, red is intuitively understandable, but it is already used for stop lights or the rear lights of cars. Cyan and magenta have been thoroughly evaluated for perception purposes and are currently not present in any traffic situations. Both ensure clear, unambiguous communication with other road users,” added Le.

This innovation reflects Opel’s commitment to accessible, intelligent safety for all road users while simultaneously building trust in autonomous vehicles.

Opel, Stellantis and the TU Darmstadt started joint research into new lighting technologies in 2022. The cooperation is part of the global Stellantis research network with respected universities. In the so-called ‘OpenLabs’, scientific knowledge is gained for use in technology systems of future vehicle generations. The strategic partnership with TU Darmstadt will enable a new era of lighting technologies. In addition, Stellantis is currently funding three doctoral students at the university’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology.

!NEW! Tests of Opel and TÜV Rheinland confirm refrigerant safety

• Safety of R1234yf in air conditioners confirmed under realistic conditions
• Opel Mokka SUV meets EU directive for climate-friendly refrigerant
• GWP lower by 99 percent compared with predecessor

Sure thing: The new climate-friendly refrigerant R1234yf can be safely used in air conditioning systems of automobiles. The photo was taken at a realistic crash test, Opel has carried out jointly with TÜV Rheinland. The violent collision with subsequent loss of water vapor and caused much damage to the climate system that led to the escape of refrigerant near the hot exhaust manifold. Nevertheless, it did not cause inflammation of the refrigerant. Test object was awarded five Euro NCAP stars Opel Mokka

The new climate-friendly refrigerant R1234yf can be safely used in air conditioning systems of automobiles. This now live crash tests have confirmed that Opel has performed together with renowned technical service corporation TÜV Rheinland. Test object was the award-winning and awarded five Euro NCAP stars SUV Opel Mokka.

Conditioners all Mokka produced since January 2013, to fill with the new, strict requirements of the EU Directive 2006/40/EC with a climate-friendly refrigerant. The rule states that all new type-approved vehicles must be equipped with a refrigerant, the global warming potential (GWP = Global Warming Potential) is below 150. While the conventional refrigerant R134a has a GWP of 1430, has the new R1234yf only a GWP of 4, and thus has a lower 99 percent greenhouse effect. R134a builds up in the Earth's atmosphere also be delayed by 30 years - R1234yf already after eleven days.

The Opel and TÜV Rheinland conducted under realistic conditions Crash tests have confirmed the safety of the new refrigerant in Opel cars. This conclusion is supported by studies of other organizations, including SAE International, the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as well as European, North American and Asian car manufacturers.

Opel and TÜV Rheinland have the Opel Mokka 1.4 Turbo subjected to a dynamic crash test under extreme conditions at 50 km / h against a moving deformable barrier. These test parameters correspond to an accident on the highway, where a fully loaded vehicle, previously moved with speed ascends, the traffic jam on a stationary vehicle.

The violent collision caused the crash test at Opel Mokka damage the climate system, leading to a leak and thus the escape of refrigerant near the hot exhaust manifold. Nevertheless, it did not cause inflammation of the refrigerant.

"The safety of our vehicles and our customers is a top priority for Opel. And environmental performance in our company has a long tradition. The Mokka strengthens with the new refrigerant our leading role in linking mobility, environmental protection and safety. We are proud to introduce an equally safe, effective and environmentally friendly climate system, "said Michael F. Ableson, Opel Chief Development Officer and GM Europe Vice President, Engineering.

The automobile industry dominated the safe use of potentially flammable liquids such as gasoline, antifreeze, grease, brake fluid and windshield washer. Compared to gasoline requires 5000 times more energy to ignite the new refrigerant. "In the near future there is no way to R1234yf. Possible alternatives as refrigerant CO2-based are still in development and so years away from the market", said Ableson.

Since its launch in June 2012, the new Opel Mokka learns much praise from press and public alike. Accordingly, there are currently more than 90,000 orders for the new mocha, with which Opel became the first German car manufacturer, the fast growing subcompact SUV enters (SUV B-segment).