The new Volvo S60, V60 and XC60 models which are currently on show at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show can be fitted with the new Volvo Active High Beam Control, making night driving safer and more comfortable for the driver, as well as for other motorists on the road.

“Our aim with the renewed Volvo Active High Beam Control technology is to enhance visibility in the dark by making it possible to use high beam permanently, without having to switch to low beam when meeting or catching up with other cars,” says Prof. Lotta Jakobsson, Senior Technical Specialist Safety, Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

Volvo Active High Beam Control – Features

The main advantage of the Volvo Active High Beam Control is that the traffic environment outside the shaded area is still illuminated by the high beam and allows drivers to detect objects on the roadside such as parked cars, pedestrians and animals.

The shading mechanism prevents dazzling of oncoming motorists. When an oncoming car approaches or when catching up to another car from behind, the mechanism shades out just enough light as is necessary. The Active High Beam Control uses the same camera used for detection and automatic braking and is located by the rear-view mirror at the top of the windscreen. The camera detects vehicles and identifies the area that needs to be shaded. The Volvo Active High Beam Control technology is accurate enough to frame an object with a 1.5 degree margin.

The control unit relays the information to an ingenious projector module mechanism integrated into the headlamp. A small cylinder with metal pieces of different sizes allows the possibility of shading just as much beam as is necessary.

The Volvo Active High Beam Control features Xenon lamps and is active from speeds up to 15km/h.