Motorcycle headlights are, in theory, simple elements with a basic function: to illuminate at night and allow us to see the road and for others to see us. But since their creation with the automotive industry, headlights have evolved, first starting to have bulbs, then halogen bulbs, later with LED technology…
The way in which lighthouses have been giving us light has improved and changed over time. But the most important changes for motorcycle users came with the appearance of adaptive lighting, which allowed us to see better in curved areas. Not all motorcycles have it, on the contrary, there are very few of them, but this technology is ready to go one step further. At least that’s how BMW puts it.
BMW’s new headlights would use technology used in camera stabilizers
The German manufacturer, as reported by CycleWorld colleagues, has patented headlights that use the same systems as the stabilizers of cameras and mobile phones. We know them as gimbals, but the principle behind this system is that of the gyroscope.
Currently, cornering lights vary the angle of the headlights and allow us to see better thanks to the fact that they can move, in the case of the BMW Headlight Pro system installed on the BMW R 1250 GS, up to 35 degrees.
But the new system patented by BMW to make the headlights more effective would use the same three axes of the gyroscope theory to compensate for the movements of the motorcycle and illuminate everything in front of us and to the sides as best as possible. You have to think that without this type of system, the headlight always illuminates straight, even if we are turning and, therefore, it does not illuminate the curve.
But returning to the headlight system that BMW has patented and that manages the IMU, the same one that manages other aids such as traction controls or ABS when cornering on many motorcycles today, it has three axles, each with a function. The first axis keeps the headlight level, the second compensates for acceleration and braking inertia, and the third makes the light from the headlights go directly to the apex of the curve.
But there is more and that is that this lighthouse would also include a camera, which gives rise to speculation about other types of aid to users that could arrive in the future. Of course, we do not know if it helps with driving, detection of obstacles or other vehicles or any other functionality that, taking advantage of technology, could arrive.
At the moment there is the patent, the rest will have to wait.
