To try and reduce vehicle collisions during darker times of the day, ŠKODA is using virtual reality to further headlight technology and improve safety.
With 40 per cent of car collisions happening in the dark, the Czech brand is using large screens in the lab to review light paths, intensity and functionality of front lights – with its latest advancements used on the facelifted Fabia.
By using virtual and physical models, ŠKODA is able to judge how new lighting features will work in the real world – with simulators being employed to see how they would work out on the road.
Mathematical models are also being used to help monitor various functions of the lighting systems, including when the Matrix high-beam avoids dazzling other drivers and how the driver themselves could be dazzled by the lights on their car via reflection.
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Petr Kristl, head of lighting development at Skoda, said: “This is the only laboratory of its kind anywhere in the Volkswagen Group. It gives our employees a unique opportunity to test lights designed for new models before the prototype testing stage.
“The virtual night-time driving tool enables us to monitor and evaluate the quality of the light path and optimise the lighting functions.”
