Re: Seeing the light: PH Blog
Discussion
I can only assume that all the mums on the school run around here are too poor to spec their SUVs with this tech. I am regularly blinded by them even on dipped beams - probably made worse because I sit a bit lower to the ground.
I was discussing the problem with a couple of them one evening - they basically suggested it was my fault for driving an MX5 and I should sell it and get myself an SUV.
I was discussing the problem with a couple of them one evening - they basically suggested it was my fault for driving an MX5 and I should sell it and get myself an SUV.
My Range Rover has high beam assist and it's absolute turd. It never turns off in time, prompting flashing from oncoming traffic and there's no seemingly obvious criteria which must be met before the high's switch on.
Lastnight, I was following a white A6 estate (painfully slowly I might add) and had been for about 4 miles down back roads. We came into a town with street lighting and suddenly my full beams came on at possibly the most inappropriate moment as he was braking for a roundabout, blinding the poor git and making me look like an utter arse.
Admittedly, I was thinking about flashing him anyway, but that's not the point.
Also, these automated gubbins are only "good" when they're clean. Living in the middle of nowhere, my car is always brown despite buying a blue one, which means the 360 degree cameras etc never work because the lenses are covered.
Lastnight, I was following a white A6 estate (painfully slowly I might add) and had been for about 4 miles down back roads. We came into a town with street lighting and suddenly my full beams came on at possibly the most inappropriate moment as he was braking for a roundabout, blinding the poor git and making me look like an utter arse.
Admittedly, I was thinking about flashing him anyway, but that's not the point.
Also, these automated gubbins are only "good" when they're clean. Living in the middle of nowhere, my car is always brown despite buying a blue one, which means the 360 degree cameras etc never work because the lenses are covered.
FastRich said:
Admittedly, I was thinking about flashing him anyway, but that's not the point.
That really is impressive tech! The system knew the dawdling driver was annoying you and took it's own action Lol.Now if only this could be linked to indicators as said previously it would make the world a better place..
Oh, I've seen cars now flashing their inside fog-light when turning? Or indicating and turning?!
What is that all about?
Once again no consideration for glare in poor weather/rain on a night etc.
And do fog lights in these modern cars with huge b-pillar blind spots and poor front wheel area visibility actually light up any usable area for the drivers in a sharp turn any way? Probably not.
Another great gimmick to sell to simpletons though.
What is that all about?
Once again no consideration for glare in poor weather/rain on a night etc.
And do fog lights in these modern cars with huge b-pillar blind spots and poor front wheel area visibility actually light up any usable area for the drivers in a sharp turn any way? Probably not.
Another great gimmick to sell to simpletons though.
Interesting that this article refers to a BMW, they can't even make a proper indicator switch! I really don't see how these systems can be beneficial, what about traffic joining from side roads? Anyone had their full beam come on whilst approaching a junction and had the car waiting assume that they were flashing them to invite them to join the main road? I can forsee this happening and causing a collision.
I would much rather have a decent set of Xenon lamps with a manual dip switch. It's the only part of the indicator stalk on my BMW I actually like as the indicator functions are intensely annoying, tap for 3 flashes which is barely adequate even for a motorway lane change
. Or click to activate but then the stalk returns to its' central position and it is almost impossible to turn the indicator off without activating it in the opposite direction, what is the matter with having a stalk which remains in the position the driver puts it until the driver wants to cancel it, GRRRRR!
I would much rather have a decent set of Xenon lamps with a manual dip switch. It's the only part of the indicator stalk on my BMW I actually like as the indicator functions are intensely annoying, tap for 3 flashes which is barely adequate even for a motorway lane change
. Or click to activate but then the stalk returns to its' central position and it is almost impossible to turn the indicator off without activating it in the opposite direction, what is the matter with having a stalk which remains in the position the driver puts it until the driver wants to cancel it, GRRRRR!
My Vauxhall Mokka has the optional advanced forward lighting, the bixenon lights are outstandingly good. The chances are my next car wont have them and they will be hugely missed. The high beam assist is also very good too.
My previous Mokka had high beam assist with standard halogen lighting and they were shockingly bad. The assist feature just didn't work properly blinding other drivers was pot luck if they turned off.
My previous Mokka had high beam assist with standard halogen lighting and they were shockingly bad. The assist feature just didn't work properly blinding other drivers was pot luck if they turned off.
BlueRSedFly said:
...
Or click to activate but then the stalk returns to its' central position and it is almost impossible to turn the indicator off without activating it in the opposite direction, what is the matter with having a stalk which remains in the position the driver puts it until the driver wants to cancel it, GRRRRR!
Try nudging the indicator in the direction you are already indicating in to cancel it. Makes life much easier. Or click to activate but then the stalk returns to its' central position and it is almost impossible to turn the indicator off without activating it in the opposite direction, what is the matter with having a stalk which remains in the position the driver puts it until the driver wants to cancel it, GRRRRR!
Hahaha! Cadillac (and Oldsmobile) had this in 1952! It was called the "Autronic Eye". Basically, there was a photo-sensor mounted on the dash (which looked like a laser gun prop from a '50s B-movie) which would sense an oncoming car's headlights and automatically dim the headlights. Didn't always work perfectly, but they persevered and offered it on Cadillacs up until 1988. No clue why they got rid of it, nor why it's taken this long for the rest of the world to catch on.
Seems pretty common for European manufacturers to bring back old technologies and claim them as some new innovation. Mecedes' SLK from the '90s tried to claim it had the first power retracting hard top. Ford had a power folding had top in 1957 on the Fairlane/Galaxie 500 Skyliner, nearly four decades earlier!
Same thing with S-class headlights that steer with the way the car is turning. Most higher-end American cars had a similar (though mechanical) system in the 1930s!
The middle light on this Duesenberg turns with the steering wheel, by means of being connected to the steering linkage. Legendary American entrepreneur and early proponent of safety technology in cars, Preston Tucker brought back the concept for his 1948 Tucker Torpedo (center light that turns with the steering wheel).
Seems pretty common for European manufacturers to bring back old technologies and claim them as some new innovation. Mecedes' SLK from the '90s tried to claim it had the first power retracting hard top. Ford had a power folding had top in 1957 on the Fairlane/Galaxie 500 Skyliner, nearly four decades earlier!
Same thing with S-class headlights that steer with the way the car is turning. Most higher-end American cars had a similar (though mechanical) system in the 1930s!
The middle light on this Duesenberg turns with the steering wheel, by means of being connected to the steering linkage. Legendary American entrepreneur and early proponent of safety technology in cars, Preston Tucker brought back the concept for his 1948 Tucker Torpedo (center light that turns with the steering wheel).
bobberz said:
Hahaha! Cadillac (and Oldsmobile) had this in 1952! It was called the "Autronic Eye". Basically, there was a photo-sensor mounted on the dash (which looked like a laser gun prop from a '50s B-movie) which would sense an oncoming car's headlights and automatically dim the headlights. Didn't always work perfectly, but they persevered and offered it on Cadillacs up until 1988. No clue why they got rid of it, nor why it's taken this long for the rest of the world to catch on.
Seems pretty common for European manufacturers to bring back old technologies and claim them as some new innovation. Mecedes' SLK from the '90s tried to claim it had the first power retracting hard top. Ford had a power folding had top in 1957 on the Fairlane/Galaxie 500 Skyliner, nearly four decades earlier!
Same thing with S-class headlights that steer with the way the car is turning. Most higher-end American cars had a similar (though mechanical) system in the 1930s!
The middle light on this Duesenberg turns with the steering wheel, by means of being connected to the steering linkage. Legendary American entrepreneur and early proponent of safety technology in cars, Preston Tucker brought back the concept for his 1948 Tucker Torpedo (center light that turns with the steering wheel).
The citroen DS did turning lights pretty well.Seems pretty common for European manufacturers to bring back old technologies and claim them as some new innovation. Mecedes' SLK from the '90s tried to claim it had the first power retracting hard top. Ford had a power folding had top in 1957 on the Fairlane/Galaxie 500 Skyliner, nearly four decades earlier!
Same thing with S-class headlights that steer with the way the car is turning. Most higher-end American cars had a similar (though mechanical) system in the 1930s!
The middle light on this Duesenberg turns with the steering wheel, by means of being connected to the steering linkage. Legendary American entrepreneur and early proponent of safety technology in cars, Preston Tucker brought back the concept for his 1948 Tucker Torpedo (center light that turns with the steering wheel).
Also didn't they advertise the SLK as having the first folding hard-top?
Mr Whippy said:
I'd rather have some IR flood-lamps and a full-windscreen HUD with IR overlay. When that arrives I'll be happy.
Presents the same issues though, only present generation cameras are far worse at adjusting for glare. Forward looking infrared is where its at, with little boxes highlighting things on a HUD; and perhaps a weapon inventory read out, and terrain warnings...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff