The function of the headlight system in an automobile is to illuminate the road ahead to make it clearly visible, from a safe distance. At the same time, it should not cause discomfort for the drivers coming from the opposite side. To achieve this, a meeting beam or dip beam is provided in addition to the driving beam or high beam to reduce the dazzle for those approaching head-on to the vehicle. Normal practice is to manually switch over between the beams to change the headlight circuit to either high beam or dip beam as required, by the driver.
Driver Vision and Glare
Even though the human eye is equipped with a variety of adaptation abilities, it is incapacitated by its inability to refuse glare sources in the normal visual field, the most serious of which is vehicle headlight glare. The physical dimensions of the object, the luminance reaching the object, its reflectance factor, colour contrast etc. determine the nature and quantum of visual information available. The actual perception is dependent on the physical condition and the perception method of the viewer. The headlight systems of the vehicle, including the number and type of lamps, their alignment and their efficiency, all play a vital role in influencing the visibility of objects on the road.
Night Driving
A major reason for motor vehicle accidents at night is the glare caused by oncoming vehicles which momentarily blinds the driver. A study carried out by Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, (Road Research Paper No.216), reveals the poor state of affairs on the Indian roads, regarding dipping. The observations and recommendations of the study group on road safety constituted by the Government of India vide Resolution No.19T (14) 68, dated June 3, 1969, is as follows:
‘A frequent cause of accidents at nights is the glare caused by oncoming vehicles which momentarily blinds the driver’s vision. It takes three to eight seconds for a person with good eyesight to recover from the glare and during this time, the vehicle will have covered a long distance in utter darkness and it will be sheer luck if it escapes an accident. A glare recovery test should be carried out to gauge the applicant's ability in this direction, followed by tests pertaining to colour and night blindness’.
Why enso?
In every automobile, a 'meeting' beam (dip beam) is provided, in addition to the driving beam (high beam) to reduce the dazzle for those vehicles coming head-on. The present practice of manual switchover between dip beam and high beam is often not done effectively due to a variety of reasons. The major reason is the physical strain involved in the operation of the dipper switches hundreds of times in every night travel. The physiological and psychological state of a driver which is influenced by a variety of factors like work fatigue, social and economic issues etc. also contribute to the ineffectiveness in manual shifting of beams.
Sometimes, the sheer ego of drivers prevents them to initiate switching over of the beam. For all these reasons, manual dipping is found inadequate and hence the solution is to install an automatic device which can take the role of an intelligent driver who manages headlight beams rationally according to the speed of the vehicle, ambient light and opposite approaching glare. enso prevails over the human limitations and ensure the safety of the user vehicle and the head-on vehicle.
enso is an Intelligent Headlight Beam Management device made to assist the driver in switching between the beams rationally. It is an active safety device and enlightened solution for an age-old demand of the night driving community. The product range of enso is a result of three decades of hard work and commitment, next generation research & development, real-time road test and feedbacks from our customers. The transition from mere auto-dipper to an automatic headlight beam management assist with a dedicated inbuilt GPS, adhering to international standard, was remarkable.
