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.

Opel and TU Darmstadt Start Close Cooperation in Light Technology

• OpenLabs: Stellantis operates global research network with universities
• Strategic partnership: TU Darmstadt is first OpenLab in Germany
• Five main areas of development: Communication and assistance systems, adaptive headlamps, rear lights, interior lighting, light sources

Objective: Scientific insights for use in future generations of automotive lighting

Opel and the Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt) have begun joint research into new lighting technologies. Cooperation is part of the global Stellantis research network with respected universities. In currently 15 so-called “OpenLabs”, scientific knowledge is gained for use in technology systems of future vehicle generations. Strategic partnership with TU Darmstadt, the first Stellantis OpenLab in Germany, will enable a new era of lighting technologies. In addition, Stellantis is funding three doctoral students at the university’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, initially for the next four years.

“Advanced adaptive light systems do so much more than just illuminate the road according to the prevailing conditions,” said Opel CEO Uwe Hochgeschurtz. “They are linked to numerous assistance systems and make driving safer and more comfortable. Together with TU Darmstadt, we want to develop all-new lighting systems and bring them to the market. We are pleased to be working with the science and research experts from TU Darmstadt.”

Out of the lab and into the car

Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD: Pixel-Vizor

Pixel-Vizor front end of the Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD already demonstrates how safety in road traffic can be increased via innovative lighting systems. “We take a holistic view of the subject of light. Light has a great relevance in many areas of the automobile, which goes far beyond the headlamps," explained Philipp Röckl, Lead Innovation Engineer Exterior Lighting. Research in the OpenLab at TU Darmstadt therefore focusses on the further development of communication and driver assistance systems, adaptive headlamps systems, rear lights, interior lighting and light sources in general.

Funded research will include an intelligent, self-adapting headlamp and tail-lamp system that optimally adapts to the environment and traffic situation as well as other influencing factors. Initial tests with a prototype are already planned for the end of the year. “We want to revolutionise automotive lighting with this technology, and accompany the development through all stages, from research to prototypes and testing to the finished product,” said Professor Tran Quoc Khanh, Head of the Department of Adaptive Lighting Systems and Visual Processing at the TU Darmstadt.

Cooperation accelerates safety gains on the road

For both cooperation partners, the new Open Lab means a win-win situation on the way to future light generations: Stellantis can draw on the expertise of the renowned TU Darmstadt to transfer research findings into vehicle systems and the TU's doctoral students can use the automotive company's technical infrastructure to test their developments in the field.

"We have been working with the experts in Professor Khanh's field for many years. This cooperation in the field of lighting technology will be intensified and strengthened in the long term by the OpenLab," adds Philipp Röckl. Current research project is initially scheduled for four years. However, the aim is to establish a strategic cooperation for the next ten years and beyond.

“If everything goes as planned, the first vehicles with the lighting technologies developed with Stellantis will be seen on the roads by 2028”, said Professor Khanh. “They will have one of the most intelligent lighting technologies in the world.”

IntelliLux LED Pixel Light already in today’s Opel Insignia, Grandland and Astra

Making innovative lighting technologies affordable for a broad range of buyers is a tradition at Opel, as the all-new Astra is currently demonstrating. In 2015, previous generation (“European Car of the Year 2016”) brought ground-breaking IntelliLux LED Matrix light to the compact class. 

2015: First in class - Opel Astra with IntelliLux LED Matrix light

Now the next stage of development has begun: IntelliLux LED Pixel light familiar from the Opel flagships Insignia and new SUV Grandland is celebrating its Astra premiere. 

2021: High-resolution premium lighting - All-New Opel Astra with IntelliLux LED Pixel light 

With a total of 168 LED elements – 84 per headlamp – compact class newcomer ensures a precise and seamless light pattern at all times, adapted to the situation and without dazzling other road users. LEDs are integrated in ultra-slim headlights. Main headlamp “cuts out” oncoming vehicles within milliseconds. Remaining areas continue to be illuminated with full high beam, for optimum visibility and safety at all times.

All-New Opel Astra with IntelliLux LED Pixel light: Glare-free high beams

Christian Müller appointed new Head of Powertrain & Chassis Engineering for the Groupe PSA

• Christian Müller, current Opel R&D chief, succeeds Alain Raposo at Groupe PSA level with the same responsibilities
• Marcus Lott to follow Christian Müller as Vice President Opel/Vauxhall Engineering

Christian Müller

Christian Müller, currently Managing Director Engineering Opel Automobile GmbH has been appointed new Head of Powertrain & Chassis Engineering of Groupe PSA effective August 1. He will report to Nicolas Morel, EVP Research & Development. He will succeed Alain Raposo who has served in this position since May 2018. Alain Raposo has chosen to leave Groupe PSA voluntarily at the end of August 2020 in order to pursue a personal project.

Marcus Lott, Vice President Body in White, Equipment & Materials Engineering and an Opel/Vauxhall engineer since 1994, will become the new head for R&D of the German and British brands and member of the Managing Board of Opel Automobile GmbH effective August 1.

Nicolas Morel, Executive Vice President Research & Development of Groupe PSA said: “I am delighted to work even closer with Christian Müller who is a leading and recognized powertrain expert in the automotive industry. And I congratulate Marcus Lott on his new position. With his many years of engineering experience, he will make a decisive contribution to successfully developing further the Opel/Vauxhall brands and the group’s Engineering Center in Rüsselsheim. These management decisions clearly demonstrate how closely integrated our engineering teams work together. German Engineering competence will continue to play a key role in the Groupe PSA.”

Michael Lohscheller, member of Groupe PSA Managing Board and CEO of Opel/Vauxhall added: “German Engineering is at the heart of Opel. As head of Opel R&D, Christian played a key role in making this visible and tangible for our customers in all of our models, like the current Corsa and future Mokka, which are also available in electric versions. I am delighted that with Marcus Lott we have appointed a highly experienced and recognized engineer as his successor. Marcus has known our company, models and people for almost 30 years now.”

Christian Müller has been Managing Director Engineering of Opel Automobile GmbH since August 1, 2017. Prior to this assignment, he held the position of Vice President GM Global Propulsion Systems – Europe. Christian Müller was born in Rüsselsheim, Germany in 1969 and received a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Darmstadt University.

Marcus Lott has been Vice President Body in White, Equipment & Materials Engineering since January this year. Before this assignment, he was Vice President Programs & Strategy of Opel/Vauxhall. Furthermore, he led the development of various vehicles in North America, South America, Asia and Europe as a chief engineer. Marcus Lott was born in Mainz, Germany in 1968 and holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering/Automotive Technology from RWTH Aachen.

!NEW! Formula Student: Opel Main Sponsor and Partner of Largest University Racing Series in Europe

• Three-year contract signed with Formula Student Germany
• New “Opel Style Award“ for especially clever design and packaging solutions
• TU Kaiserslautern and THM Gießen join group of Opel teams 

Formula speedster: The racing cars used in the Formula Student are prototypes and are designed, engineered, built and driven by students.

Opel continues intensifying its activities dedicated to promoting young engineers, signing a three-year contract as main sponsor of the international educational motorsport competition Formula Student. Charlie Klein, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, is delighted that Opel is now a sponsor of Europe’s largest student motorsport competition: “With this we make a clear statement regarding our long-term commitment to passionate and talented people. The involvement of many Opel employees in this established student racing series to date has already been a valuable investment in our own future. Now we are going a step further, and in addition to the university teams we promote, we are also sponsoring the entire series. We will also grant the “Opel Style Award“ to the Formula Student teams with especially clever design and packaging solutions, and thereby build a bridge to these traditional Opel strengths.” The winning team can look forward to enjoying an Opel ADAM S as team vehicle for a whole season.

Strong partnership: Charlie Klein, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and Ludwig Vollrath, Board Member Formula Student Germany, with two monopostos of the student motorsport competition.

Students participating in Formula Student face engineering and manufacturing challenges very similar to those faced by established Opel engineers. Just like for real-life engineers, it is about aligning product attributes, manufacturing methods and economic efficiency. During the season, the team members learn and grow with every new task. This makes the motorsport competition a unique opportunity for all budding engineers to experience and actively contribute to a complete model development cycle within a very short period of time.

„Competing in the Formula Student not only offers students the opportunity to apply and deepen their specialist knowledge, it also gives them the chance to gather management and social skills along with international experience. The Formula Student has become the central educational motorsport competition with its 600 teams from 52 countries. Opel’s commitment strongly supports this orientation,” said Ludwig Vollrath, Board Member Formula Student Germany.

The special appeal of the Formula Student competition is that the teams are responsible for the entire process, just like automobile manufacturers. The racing car they develop must have competitive-level performance in terms of acceleration, braking and handling qualities. Reliability, durability and low-cost production are also aspects that will be judged. The competition takes place under the auspices of the Association of German Engineers VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure).

Thumbs up: Charlie Klein, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, is looking forward to the new Formula Student season with six Opel teams from Darmstadt, Rhein-Main, Hamburg, Deggendorf, Kaiserslautern and Gießen.

Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Charlie Klein outlines the cooperation with the teams supported by Opel: “We provide the students with help and advice. The spectrum of our support ranges from use of the test track at the Opel Test Center Rodgau-Dudenhofen for production of parts and components to advice and guidance from our engineers. We are particularly delighted that from this season, we will welcome two new teams from the TU Kaiserslautern (University of Kaiserslautern) and the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences) to our ranks. With this official support, we also recognize the close relationships to our development center and the Kaiserslautern plant. Our partner teams are excellent ambassadors for our brand.”

Last year, the ninth season of Formula Student brought over 3,600 students in 115 teams from 24 countries to the Hockenheimring. There they were cheered on by more than 5,000 spectators – a record year for the student racing series competition that features the two categories combustion engines and electric propulsion. This year, Formula Student again takes place in Hockenheim from July 30 – August 2. Support of Formula Student also has a long tradition at Opel’s parent company General Motors. In addition to General Motors’ overall engagement within the Formula SAE, particularly its collaboration with the home team from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is of special note. As the teams supported by GM and Opel maintain close contact and assist one another, the Opel Blitz shines next to the GM logo on the hoods of many US racing cars.

The Opel teams in the Formula Student:

TU DART Racing (TU Darmstadt) - http://dart-racing.de
Scuderia Mensa (Hochschule Rhein-Main) - http://www.scuderia-mensa.de
HAWKS Racing (Hochschule Hamburg) -  www.hawksracing.de
Fast Forest (TH Deggendorf) - http://www.fast-forest.de
KaRaT Racing (TU Kaiserslautern) - http://www.karat-racing.de/
THM Motorsport (TH Mittelhessen Gießen) - http://www.thm.de/motorsport/racing/

!NEW! First in Compact Class: New Opel Astra with IntelliLux LED Matrix Light

• Bright future: New light generation IntelliLux LED in Opel bestseller from autumn
• Light as day at night: LED Matrix system offers constant, glare-free high beams
• Highest efficiency: More intensive and longer lasting than conventional headlamps

Opel IntelliLux LED on: Consisting of 16 LED segments – eight on each side of the vehicle – the new LED Matrix system automatically and constantly adapts the length and distribution of the light beam to every traffic situation.

The intelligent lighting system of the future will make its premiere in the new Opel Astra generation at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (September 17 to 27, 2015). With the new Astra, the ground-breaking Full-LED Matrix Light IntelliLux that enables driving with glare-free high beams will be available in the compact class for the first time, making top-of-the-range lighting technology accessible to the largest audience ever. After having introduced Bi-Xenon adaptive lighting in the current generation Astra, Opel again takes on a pioneering role in lighting technology with its next compact bestseller.

Opel IntelliLux LED off: Consisting of 16 LED segments – eight on each side of the vehicle – the new LED Matrix system automatically and constantly adapts the length and distribution of the light beam to every traffic situation.

“We are democratizing technology by making innovations affordable and bringing them to high volume vehicles. Our new LED Matrix Light, IntelliLux, is a perfect example. With the introduction of this lighting technology to the Compact Vehicle Class, Opel is the first automaker to offer this highly efficient and high performance lighting system in this segment. Our integration of the LED Technology provides outstanding night time performance enhancing safety for the driver and those around them,” says Charlie Klein, Vice President Vehicle Engineering at Opel.

Bright as day: High beam lighting for driver without dazzling other road users

After having already made Bi-Xenon adaptive lighting more affordable and available in most of its models, including the current Astra, of which more than 200,000 have been sold with the system, engineers at Opel’s International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim turned their attention to developing, enhancing and fine-tuning the lighting system of the new generation. After years of preparation Opel’s new, patented IntelliLux Full-LED is now ready to go into production. To date, this type of system has been reserved for upmarket vehicles in the luxury class. Opel will introduce it in the new Astra generation making its premiere at this year’s International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in September. This was possible with intelligent solutions and the latest generation of LEDs, which provide bright illumination, close to daylight.

Consisting of 16 LED segments – eight on each side of the vehicle – the new LED Matrix system automatically and constantly adapts the length and distribution of the light beam to every traffic situation. In the process, it works with the Opel Eye front camera that, for instance, detects the presence of other vehicles in motion so that the individual LED segments that would dazzle oncoming drivers are automatically switched off and on.

As soon as the vehicle exits urban areas, the high-beam lighting is automatically switched on – and it always remains on. This leads to a considerable increase in safety, as confirmed in a study conducted by the Technical University of Darmstadt and the European LightSightSafety Initiative. The study shows that at driving speeds of 80 km/h, drivers detect objects at the side of the road around 30 to 40 meters sooner than with conventional Halogen or Xenon low beam lighting. This gives them around 1.5 seconds more time to react, for instance when animals suddenly cross the road.

Not only Opel Astra drivers benefit from this – while they enjoy excellent light and visibility conditions, they do not dazzle other road users. When the camera detects light sources from oncoming or preceding traffic, individual LEDs in the relevant zone are deactivated, simply “cutting out” the area around the vehicles. The rest of the road and its surroundings remain brightly illuminated. With this degree of precision and adaptation, LED Matrix Light elevates lighting technology to the next level.

Opel lighting engineers have not made an intelligent, Full-LED system more affordable, they have also taken it to a new level of intelligence. As not all Astra customers will opt for an imbedded navigation system, the lighting system needs to be able to recognize if the vehicle is in an urban area or on a highway for instance independently. The IntelliLux system in the new Opel Astra will be the first Matrix Light system that continuously optimized in a series production car without being linked to the navigation system. In addition to the many automatic low and high beam pattern variations, IntelliLux LED also provides a special highway light mode that further increases safety at night. And a special welcome light function makes entering and exiting the Opel Astra more comfortable in the dark.

Brighter, longer-lasting, more efficient: Opel’s IntelliLux LED scores threefold

The LED Matrix light’s high efficiency brings added safety and comfort. Not only does the system illuminate the surroundings brighter than conventional lighting systems, it also has a considerably longer running life than headlamps with Halogen or Xenon lamps. Another advantage is that mechanical movements are no longer necessary in the headlamp – the individual LED segments turn on or off according to the situation, which also contributes to a durability that far exceeds the lifespan of a car.

Does not dazzle: When Opel IntelliLux detects light sources from oncoming or preceding traffic, individual LEDs in the relevant zone are deactivated, simply “cutting out” the area around the vehicles. The rest of the road and its surroundings remain brightly illuminated.

Last but not least, the new lighting system has also made the designers very happy. Before, the size of the headlamps’ housing mainly depended on the most expensive technology it protected, but now the base lamp determines the visible part of the headlamp. Thanks to the small LEDs used in the Matrix light, in future, the lamps can be designed more finely and delicately; mechanical, complicated control units that require a lot of space and optically oversized housings are thus outdated.

!NEW! Guiding Light: Eye-tracking Technology from Opel

• Trendsetting: Third generation adaptive lighting already in development
• Forward-looking: Eye movements control direction and intensity of headlamp beam
• Across all classes: Opel safety lighting system AFL+ from Astra to Insignia
• Coming soon: LED Matrix light makes glare-free high beams the standard

Lightning-fast reaction: The camera in Opel’s eye-tracking system scans the driver’s eyes more than 50 times per second to instantaneously adjust the headlamp beam.

Car headlamp beams that are directed by the driver’s eyes? What may still sound like science fiction fantasy in the United Nations’ International Year of Light is not all that far away from reality. Engineers at Opel are already busy developing automotive lighting for the day after tomorrow: with its eye-tracking technology, Opel presents the future of situation-appropriate lighting and once again takes on a pioneering role in lighting technology. This announces a third generation of automotive adaptive lighting, that will be introduced after the current, widely-praised and multi-award-winning AFL+ Bi-Xenon system featuring up to 10 lighting functions available in most Opel models, and Opel’s LED Matrix light that will soon go into series production.

Safety on board: The AFL+ system in the Opel Insignia ensures variable light distribution according to driving situation, road and weather conditions.

Glare-free: Opel’s LED Matrix light deactivates individual LEDs so that oncoming traffic is not dazzled. The rest of the road remains brightly illuminated.

“We’ve been pursuing this concept of controlling the direction and intensity of light based on where the driver is looking for around two years. The more we understand the benefits of this technology, the more intensively we push ahead with our joint project,” says Ingolf Schneider, Director Lighting Technology at Opel, describing the collaboration between Opel’s International Technical Development Center and the Technical University of Darmstadt.

In contrast to high-performance eye-tracking systems requiring five to 10 cameras, a simple webcam was at first used. Focused on the driver’s head, it scanned prominent points, such as the nose and eyes, to detect movement and thereby the driver’s line of sight.

The system then translated the information gathered into data commands for electronically-controlled actuators, which quickly aligned the vehicle’s headlamp projectors. While this technique came very close to achieving eye-control of the headlamps, calculation of data still took too long and the recording rate of the webcam was also too slow to meet the demanding requirements of road traffic conditions.

Fast reaction and intelligent delay

Optimization of the camera’s operating parameters and the adaptation of the eye-tracking algorithm brought the breakthrough. The camera is now equipped with peripheral infra-red sensors and central photo-diodes which together enable it to scan the driver’s eyes more than 50 times per second in dusk and night-time conditions. And with much faster data processing and transmission, the headlamp actuators react instantaneously to make both horizontal and vertical adjustments.

The future of situation-appropriate lighting: Opel engineers are already today working on eye-tracking technology, which will enable drivers to control the car headlamp beams with the direction of their gaze. 

Only one problem remained. In practice, a driver’s eyes very naturally and unconsciously jump from one focal point to another. So if the headlamps were allowed to follow this movement precisely, the vehicle’s light cone would jerk around erratically. “To overcome this problem, we have successfully developed a sophisticated delay algorithm which ensures a suitably flowing movement for the light cone,” says Schneider. “Another major benefit is that the eye-tracker doesn’t have to be individually calibrated for a particular driver. The system works perfectly with anyone behind the wheel, no matter what their size.” Even if the driver is momentarily distracted from looking at the road ahead, lighting is always provided in the direction of travel. That’s because the low beam of the headlamps is programmed to ensure sufficient illumination.

Modern safety lighting already widely accessible today: AFL+ from Opel

Even as Opel is developing eye-tracking as the lighting system of the future, it already provides advanced technologies which ensure optimal night vision and highest driving safety on roads today. Opel has brought a break-through in automotive lighting in offering the current generation of AFL+ in a wide range of models, from the Mokka, Cascada and Zafira Tourer to the Astra and Insignia families, thus once again delivering on the company’s ambition of making premium technologies available to a wider audience. In combination with the Opel Eye front camera, it features up to 10 lighting functions, using Bi-Xenon headlamp beams which automatically adapt to a diverse range of driving situations. For different road and weather conditions, variable light distribution is automatically provided as appropriate for pedestrian areas, city driving, country roads, highways and adverse weather. AFL+ also includes functions such as dynamic curve light, cornering light and the use of energy-saving LED daytime running lights. The direction and intensity of the light beam is adjusted according to both steering angle and vehicle speed. In addition, high beam light assistant switches the headlamps to low beam whenever the forward-facing Opel Eye camera, integrated in the interior mirror mounting, detects the proximity of headlamps or tail-lights of other vehicles. A Light and Visibility Pack also includes automatic low beam lighting, together with tunnel recognition. With this array of automatic lighting functions, AFL+ not only improves the visibility of one’s own vehicle but also reduces driver stress and night-time drowsiness.

Bright as day: The LED Matrix light system

Parallel to refining the proven AFL+ and conducting the development of the future eye-tracking lighting generation, engineers at Opel’s International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim are currently completing the final validation tests on their next-generation lighting system for upcoming Opel vehicles. LED Matrix light provides glare-free, high beam lighting, which is automatically and constantly adapted for varying traffic situations. In this way, the LED Matrix light functions with the Opel Eye front camera, but its accuracy and adaptive capacity go one step forward. When light sources are detected from oncoming or preceding traffic, individual LEDs in the relevant zone are deactivated, while the rest of the road remains brightly illuminated. This Opel automotive lighting system turns night into day for drivers without dazzling other road users. It will be introduced within the next 18 months.