NHTSA Approves Use of Adaptive Headlights in US ...

[LYKUNO]

Found a Feb 2022 online article by Motor Authority stating that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration formally approved the use of adaptive headlights AKA matrix headlights following a rule change. New regulations allowing adaptive/matrix headlights were ultimately included in the infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden in November 2021 per the article.

Being somewhat skeptical that the government might actually have done something sensible that would improve life for car owners, I did a search at govinfo.gov and searched for the information including the text "Adaptive Driving Beam Headlamps". That brought up: "87 FR 9916 - Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment, Adaptive Driving Beam Headlamps". (<Link to PDF copy)

Here's a short synopsis from the document;
Effective date: The effective date of this final rule is February 22, 2022. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the rule was approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of February 6, 2012.

Summary: This document amends NHTSA's lighting standard to permit the certification of adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlamps. ADB headlamps utilize technology that actively modifies a vehicle's headlamp beams to provide more illumination while not glaring other vehicles. The requirements adopted today are intended to amend the lighting standard to permit this technology and establish performance requirements for these systems to ensure that they operate safely. ADB has the potential to reduce the risk of crashes by increasing visibility without increasing glare. The agency initiated this rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking from Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

I haven't read through the ~110 pages of the PDF document but my hope is that we may see progress on the enabling of Audi's matrix-design LED headlights with laser light in the near future. Having the hardware on our cars but not being able to use is beyond frustrating. I'm aware there are alternative means to enable the ADB functionality but the expense and potential for TDI/warranty issues are concerning.

I suppose I should wait until we actually take possession of our (on-order) S5 and assess its headlight performance before deciding that it needs to be improved!

[JohnEnglish]

The headlights won't be enabled because the US is using unique standards to test them. since the standards are US specific, manufacturers would have to certify all the adaptive lights again in the US. Additionally, the standards adopted by the US will most likely require US only specific hardware to meet the standards. The US already rewrote the standards once in the proposal phase due to manufacturer feedback that meeting them would be too expensive due to US specific hardware requirements.

Adaptive lights won't start rolling out in the US until a model receives a facelift or a new generation is released. I don't think many manufacturers will want to pay for certification or redesign of the headlights on an already released vehicle.

[LYKUNO]

Now that my '23 S5 Sportback has been delivered (just last week), I finally had an opportunity to try out the auto bright lights feature on a number of the back roads of the mostly rural NE Ohio county that lI live in. The bright lights really do illuminate the sides of the road much better than the headlights we have on our B8 S4. I noticed that the headlight symbol on the dash display showed the High Beam Assistant in a blue color, with the word “AUTO” directly below it. Then, when there were no oncoming cars or no visible taillights to the front of us, the headlights got much brighter and the indicator for the laser lights turned on (appears as a white starburst to the left of the blue High Beam Assistant icon with the “AUTO” below it). Pretty sure we weren’t lucky enough to have the Laser lighting on our S5 enabled, but it sure looked well lit out in front of us. (Sorry for no pic to illustrate the display -- was occupied looking for wayward deer!)

Assuming the S5's matrix/laser headlights haven't been activated for the laser functionality to work, is it normal for the laser "starburst" icon to be displayed on the dash when the headlights have gone into their high brightness mode while driving above 35-40mph??

[JohnEnglish]

Assuming the S5's matrix/laser headlights haven't been activated for the laser functionality to work, is it normal for the laser "starburst" icon to be displayed on the dash when the headlights have gone into their high brightness mode while driving above 35-40mph??

Yes that’s normal and your assumption is correct. Matrix lights are not enabled for North American cars.

[LYKUNO]

Thanks for the confirmation John! With as good as the non-enabled lights are, I should be satisfied with their performance. But I'll probably keep thinking of how much better they would be in the enabled mode! The glowing blue light in the assembly is pretty enticing as well! Someday ... perhaps!

[AccordingToAlex]

Thanks for the confirmation John! With as good as the non-enabled lights are, I should be satisfied with their performance. But I'll probably keep thinking of how much better they would be in the enabled mode! The glowing blue light in the assembly is pretty enticing as well! Someday ... perhaps!

If you don't want to wait, you can flash your controllers to enable matrix. All the hardware exists on your car already. Do a search here and your dreams will come true lol.

[Smac770]

Why associate the matrix and laser functions? They are independent.

MY23 S5, Premium and Premium Plus have the 8IY matrix capable LED headlamps, Prestige has the 8IZ matrix capable LED/laser headlamps. The matrix functions being not enabled (8G4, single beam matrix), so not sure if the cars are coded 8G1 (high beam assist) or 8G9 (matrix ready). But having laser and having matrix are not linked per se.

[PassionForAudi]

If you don't want to wait, you can flash your controllers to enable matrix. All the hardware exists on your car already. Do a search here and your dreams will come true lol.

“I got you guys” - Ross-Tech


#AudiForLife

[LYKUNO]

Why associate the matrix and laser functions? They are independent.

MY23 S5, Premium and Premium Plus have the 8IY matrix capable LED headlamps, Prestige has the 8IZ matrix capable LED/laser headlamps. The matrix functions being not enabled (8G4, single beam matrix), so not sure if the cars are coded 8G1 (high beam assist) or 8G9 (matrix ready). But having laser and having matrix are not linked per se.

I can see the 8IZ code on build sheet order for the "Matrix-design LED headlights with Audi laser light" (and listed on the window sticker) but frankly don't understand the functionality and technology involved or the capabilities available. Also, being that it's the wife's car, if I were to screw something up experimenting on the hardware/software, I will almost certainly regret it!

[Smac770]

I was simply pointing out that the laser part is functioning and good to go. It's the matrix part that is still not enabled on US models, though all the hardware is there. Though the matrix part is now legal, I assume it's still on Audi to do a recertification process for DOT, or something they don't want to bother with to be able to activate the matrix operation. Not on an at end product generation.

But on the laser aspect, google search for "Audi SSP 970293" and go to page 97 of the PDF. It lays out the laser aspect, including the instrument cluster symbols.

So laser is active and working, matrix is present but disabled.

[JohnEnglish]

I would add that it's not just as simple as a recertification process as the NHTSA developed a US only specification for adaptive lights. Manufacturers said they cannot guarantee their EU and ROW spec adaptive headlights will meet the new US spec and they may require additional hardware. I doubt we'll see any adaptive lights in NA spec cars until the redesigned models come out so the headlights can be designed with the NA market in mind.

[LYKUNO]

I was simply pointing out that the laser part is functioning and good to go. It's the matrix part that is still not enabled on US models, though all the hardware is there. Though the matrix part is now legal, I assume it's still on Audi to do a recertification process for DOT, or something they don't want to bother with to be able to activate the matrix operation. Not on an at end product generation.

But on the laser aspect, google search for "Audi SSP 970293" and go to page 97 of the PDF. It lays out the laser aspect, including the instrument cluster symbols.

So laser is active and working, matrix is present but disabled.

Thanks so much for the reference and explanation Smac! I think I'm finally getting it! For others who are interested as well, I did find the PDF at this link: https://procarmanuals.com/vag-ssp-97...d-electronics/. Note that page 97 covers the laser lights and the matrix beam light function is covered on pages 94 through 96.