We’ve come a long way since the days of using lanterns to light the roads in front of us. Halogens are still around but have generally been replaced by projectors, HID, LED, and laser systems. Now, Mercedes takes it a step further with the S-Class Digital Light, a model that features a new, high-definition headlight projection system that can display messages in real time on the road ahead. We’re talking about warnings about pedestrians, construction zones, distance to cars ahead of you, and even blind spot notification. It seems futuristic and even a little implausible, but Mercedes says there is a small production run that will be heading to selected fleet customers within the next few months.

How do the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Digital Lights Work?

According to Mercedes, the new digital light system displays one million pixels per headlamp. And they do so thanks to over one million micro-reflectors. Camera and sensor systems monitor the road ahead to detect oncoming traffic and obstacles, then adjusts the lights as needed. They will adjust to prevent blinding other drivers on the road, display lines to help navigate through narrow construction sites and, according to Mercedes, offer higher precision than Multibeam LED headlamps. Apparently, the lights adapt in a matter of milliseconds.

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Digital Light Symbols

From the sound of things, Mercedes could, in theory, program any number of driver alert symbols into the onboard processing system. In the early production run for selected fleet customers, the following symbols will be available:

• Low-grip surface symbol

• Construction-site symbol

• Rear-end collision symbol

• Lane-keeping symbol

• Blind-spot symbol

• Speed symbol.

As of the time of this writing, the lights aren’t technically legal. This technology, like any other technology, must be approved by the department of transportation of any market for which they will be offered. Mercedes says that the capability of approval is currently being reviewed, so for now, don’t expect to see these things actually operating on the road. Furthermore, they may never be available in certain markets should they not receive the necessary approval for on-road use.

References

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Read our full review on the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

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