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- Huawei demonstrated the technology at the recent Beijing Auto Show
- XPixel platform is said to be the first car headlight system to project full color
- Open-air cinema and mobile gaming could soon be a reality
Huawei is set to release the world’s first automotive headlight system that is capable of full-color projection.
Although the Chinese tech company has been shipping its monochrome XPixel high-resolution, pixel-controlled LED headlight platform for many years, it has now developed the technology to add full RGB output that’s capable of throwing a 100-inch image onto any nearby wall or surface.
During demonstrations at the recent Beijing Auto show, New Atlas reports that Huawei showcased the ability to beam ‘open-air’ movies onto a wall, interactive gaming graphics onto the floor and even turn-by-turn navigation cues thrown onto the road surface ahead.
While it might seem like a gimmick, Huawei is keen to point out that the headlights can also shift color temperature in rain or fog to improve light penetration and visibility, as well as intelligently adapting to both the curvature of the road and to avoid blinding oncoming motorists.
There hasn’t been any word on price, but Huawei says that a production version of the XPixel lighting system will debut on a refreshed version of the Aito M9 SUV, which has been co-developed with the tech company and is predominantly sold through Huawei's HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) throughout China.
Analysis: lighting the way to legal issues
Huawei’s XPixel demonstration is deeply impressive, but it’s also likely to present a difficult case for local legislation.
Intelligent laser headlights and matrix LEDs have faced fierce restrictions in the US, while regulators in the Europe and the UK are currently scrutinizing advanced headlight technology, assessing whether or not it could cause distraction and ‘blinding’ LED glare.
China typically has a much more fluid approach to legislating this sort of thing and, as a result, will likely be the first to witness headlights that can also double-up as a mobile movie theatre.
But there are also big questions over price and how much a headlamp unit would cost to repair if it gets damaged or to replace if it were to be targeted and stolen by thieves — an issue that has been causing distress to luxury vehicle owners in London and other major cities.
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