A system and method for controlling the headlights of a vehicle when it is operating in an autonomous mode. The system includes an autonomous driving sensor (115, fig. 2) programmed to output an object detection signal representing an object near a host vehicle (step 425), and a processor (135, fig. 2) programmed to output a headlight activation signal to activate vehicle headlights (step 435) in response to receiving the object detection signal. The method includes the step 405 of determining whether the vehicle is in an autonomous mode rather than controlled manually. The headlights may also be deactivated or dimmed (step 415) in order to conserve energy when no objects are detected nearby, depending on the location of the vehicle and/or visibility conditions. The object, e.g. another vehicle, a pedestrian, cyclist or animal, may be detected by LIDAR, RADAR, ultrasound and/or cameras. The presence of a nearby vehicle may also be detected via a vehicle to vehicle wireless communication interface, e.g. dedicated short-range communication (DSRC).
Autonomous vehicle headlight deactivation
2018-04-04
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60Q ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL , Anordnung von Signal- oder Beleuchtungsvorrichtungen, deren Einbau oder Halterung oder deren Schaltkreise bei Fahrzeugen allgemein |