RE: Swivelling Headlamps Soon
Wednesday 31st July 2002
Swivelling Headlamps Soon
Discussion
Volvo's SCC concept car (ie it doesn't exist yet) has headlamps apparently linked to the GPS system. On a long straight the beam lenghtens, on slower roads it widens. Apparently can even be set to lenghten / widen for bends in the road. Can't remember if it's linked to speed as well.
As others already pointed out, swivelling headlamps aren't exactly new. The Volvo system is at least innovative (blue sky possibly but innovative). I'm guessing it can't cope with cars going sideways though
Mind you, if my Geodesy is typical, it always puts me slightly askew of reality, which would be a bit more of a problem with the lights pointing the wrong way.
As others already pointed out, swivelling headlamps aren't exactly new. The Volvo system is at least innovative (blue sky possibly but innovative). I'm guessing it can't cope with cars going sideways though
Mind you, if my Geodesy is typical, it always puts me slightly askew of reality, which would be a bit more of a problem with the lights pointing the wrong way.
Take a bow, Preston Tucker.
Unfortunately, swivelling headlights are illegal in the US and UK, I believe, they are against road regulations.
The opposite lock scenario is something I didn't think of! You would have to tie the headlight system up to dynamic stability control-like yaw sensors!! Good one!
Unfortunately, swivelling headlights are illegal in the US and UK, I believe, they are against road regulations.
The opposite lock scenario is something I didn't think of! You would have to tie the headlight system up to dynamic stability control-like yaw sensors!! Good one!
But in theory if you were on opposite lock the front wheels would be pointing closer to the direction of travel than the front of the car..
I.e as i slipped into the tyres at croft on sunday the front wheels were pointing down the straight and the front of the car was pointing across the track....
a perfect slide, unfortunetly i ran out of road....
I.e as i slipped into the tyres at croft on sunday the front wheels were pointing down the straight and the front of the car was pointing across the track....
a perfect slide, unfortunetly i ran out of road....
And certain DS models.
The DS mechanism relied upon links with nylon ball joints, the balls became slack with use (I know the feeling) and would pop out of their sockets leaving the second light to wave about in the wind. It was a good job that one light on each side was fixed otherwise on one notable occassion I would have contributed to a Pallas sized hole in the hedgerows of Anglesey.
I didn't think the complexity warrented the results and I feel that modern reflector design can give the same illumination with fixed lights, others may think differently.
>> Edited by gnomesmith on Saturday 3rd August 15:34
The DS mechanism relied upon links with nylon ball joints, the balls became slack with use (I know the feeling) and would pop out of their sockets leaving the second light to wave about in the wind. It was a good job that one light on each side was fixed otherwise on one notable occassion I would have contributed to a Pallas sized hole in the hedgerows of Anglesey.
I didn't think the complexity warrented the results and I feel that modern reflector design can give the same illumination with fixed lights, others may think differently.
>> Edited by gnomesmith on Saturday 3rd August 15:34
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