Denso develops headlight system that works in conjuction with the navigation system
Denso Japan exhibited the Navi Kyocho AFS a headlight system that works in conjunction with map information stored in a car navigation system. It uses Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), which moves headlights to the left or right at a corner in accordance with the steering angle and vehicle speed. Operating in conjunction with map information, the prototype system can light the direction in which the vehicle is headed earlier. It is a common practice to look into a corner before entering, with the new system the driver does not have to do so as it makes the headlights illuminate the road ahead of the car earlier. AFS is enabled by processing the position information from the car navigation system in addition to the information on vehicle speed and steering angle.
The system is scheduled for commercialization in 2011-2012.
Via - Tokyo daily (sub reqd)
How is this any different from the adaptive headlights that BMW's already have? They've had it since at least 2004. (I have it on my 2004 530i) They're pretty cool. Not so useful when there's street lighting, but on dark roads there is a difference.