Antolin have developed what they call the NightSight Assist, a light said to enhance vision for safer driving in the dark. Designed in collaboration with the Institute of Applied Ophthalmology (IOBA) and the University of Valladolid (UVa) and co-financed by the Instituto para la Competitividad Empresarial (ICE), the system is intended to optimise the driver’s pupil diameter to reduce headlight glare, improve shape recognition in low visibility, and enhance signal interpretation.
The system addresses challenges associated with driving after dark, such as glare from headlights and detection of hard-to-see items in the roadway area, such as animals (which usually aren’t retroreflective). The collaboration involved building a simulator to clinically measure the impact of light on users during night driving.
Antolin, the IOBA, and the UVa built the simulator to clinically measure the impact of light on the user and investigate how to mitigate visual impairment during night driving. Positive results obtained in the tests enabled the majority of monitored users to improve their visual acuity and comfort while driving at night.
The system can be integrated into the sunvisor, thus giving it new functionality without making new problems for the placement or packaging of other interior equipment. The device settings are configurable, so it can be adapted to personal conditions, such as age and ocular pathologies.
