The currently common arrangement of the main low-beam and high-beam headlamp system for motorcycles only allows for inadequate illumination of the road surface in bends, due to the incline of the motorcycle. An improvement of the road surface illumination has not been investigated thus far, either for the amended arrangement of the headlamps nor for possible future headlamp systems with incline compensation and is therefore the subject of this study. Even experienced motorcyclists often find it difficult at night to estimate the curve of the road correctly on winding roads. When the cut-off line of the headlamp is tilted (due to the tilt angle of the motorcycle), the route ahead is not or only insufficiently illuminated in some driving situations. Tilting the cut-off line will also increase the glare for the oncoming traffic. Future headlamp systems have the potential to reduce the demands made on the driver when driving around such bends. An appropriate design for both the user and the vehicle can improve the illumination of the road and reduce the glare for the oncoming traffic, which will increase traffic safety. This aspect is of increasing importance, especially in association with the future use of powerful light technologies for motorcycles (gas discharge headlamps). Both the retrofit cornering light system for motorcycles, consisting of two additional headlamps, i.e. low-beam (and possibly high-beam) and the cornering light prototype with incline compensation included in the investigation have clear advantages with regard to improved night-time road surface illumination. The range of the headlamp, the illuminated width of the road surface, the direction of road surface illumination and the incline compensation of cornering light systems, when combined, provide clear advantages in comparison to conventional motorcycle headlamps. In comparison with the retrofit solution, the prototype cornering light has already reached a very high technology level. Both systems also result in clearly reduced glare for oncoming traffic, thus improving traffic safety. The questionnaires completed by the test subjects ishow a clear reduction in perceived stress. TJiere is a particular need for improvement of the retrofit solution with regard to the not yet homogeneous illumination of the road surface when driving around bends. In addition, the additional switching on of headlamps (even when previously dimmed) may be perceived by other road users. No negative effects on other road users could be determined during the course of testing. For the retrofit solution, a combination of three light sources into a single headlamp (with a similar arrangement and an electrical switch) might be a further improvement. No need for improvement of the prototype cornering light system was detected under the given test conditions.


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    Titel :

    Better road illumination for motorcycles


    Weitere Titelangaben:

    Bessere Straßenausleuchtung für Motorräder


    Beteiligte:


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2011


    Format / Umfang :

    12 Seiten, 4 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 3 Quellen



    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Print


    Sprache :

    Englisch








    Motorcycles

    Online Contents | 2001