Virginia Tech students create "smart" brake lights for cars

It's only taken about a million years, but someone has finally decided that improvements are possible in automobile braking lights. Students from Virginia Tech have developed a new system that can show not just whether you're stopping, but if you're slowing down, when you're about to stop, and how quickly you're pressing the pedal. The concept uses an array of horizontally arranged LED lights -- when you begin to slow, lights in the center glow orange, after a certain threshold side lights turn to red, and if you're slamming on the brake, they'll all flash red. The team, led by mechanical engineering Professor Mehdi Ahmadian, has plans for the system beyond the lab, though they speculate that it will be easier to add them as additional indicators on commercial vehicles at first. If this pans out, someday soon we may all be tailgating a totally psychedelic light show.

[Chris @ Mar 26th 2008 10:42PM]

Maybe I'm wrong but didn't BMW already have this? They call it "Adaptive Brake Lights". Not sure what options packages you need to get it but it already exists:

"Adaptive Brake Lights
Bumper-to-bumper collisions most often occur when the driver behind you didn't realize how hard you were braking. Our Adaptive Brake Lights help eliminate that scenario by emitting a larger, brighter light the more force you use. It allows those behind you to clearly see whether you"re lightly tapping the brakes to slow down or applying full force for a sudden stop."

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Uniquely/Innovations/Safety.aspx

[Nick @ Mar 26th 2008 10:44PM]

Yes, I believe that this is standard on all BMW vehicles from 2007 on. However, they are only two stage.

[Carlos @ Mar 26th 2008 11:02PM]

yeah it has already been done, i'm sure the folks at BMW thought past their two stage system already and just havent implemented it yet.

not trying to take anything away from these kids but its not exactly new stuff.

[2Shea @ Mar 26th 2008 10:56PM]

Exactly, BMW and Mercedes have been doing this for a while now.

Just give it a few years for the Japanese and American companies to take the concept.

[PeterF @ Mar 26th 2008 11:24PM]

That's really cool! Too bad most people don't know about it (I didn't) and wouldn't think to see how bright the lights are to see if the person is slamming their breaks or not.

[ronl12 @ Mar 26th 2008 11:40PM]

Something like this was tried by the San Francisco Municipal Transit system in the 1980's. If I remember correctly, drivers were so mesmerized by the lights that they rear-ended the busses. The system was changed to a steady light like the 3rd brake light on all cars today.

[Jesse S @ Mar 27th 2008 12:08AM]

...Mesmerized?

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Mar 27th 2008 1:13AM]

Wow, I figured I'd have to scroll halfway through 66 comments to see if somebody remembered BMW's system.

You get my award and thanks for the best first post of the week.

[nDee @ Mar 27th 2008 1:22AM]

Now even Volvo has it as standard,
I wonder why dont other Fords have them even as options
(EBL, ABL ...

[Brian f @ Mar 27th 2008 4:33AM]

This is still on most of the buses I see in the San Diego area. If the driver presses the pedal hard enough the brake lights will blink. It looks the same as when they have the hazards on. I've also seen this on a Rav4 but I think this was some sort of mod added by the owner, I found it obnoxious. This may just lull people into following closer since they have a batter idea of what the asshat in front of them is doing. Could be bad.

[GadgetUK @ Mar 27th 2008 6:00AM]

Trevor Bayliss demo'd this in the UK many years ago - I remember because I'd thought of it beforehand and thought I'd be a millionaire so I was gutted when I saw it on TV. In hindsight - I was never likely to make any money out of something so blindingly obvious.
One thing though - the weight on the brake pedal isn't the variable I'd choose to light the LED's, the decelleration would vary depending on the manufacturer, car age, tyre condition etc. I'd have it linked to an accelerometer instead to give a real indication of how quickly the car is actually slowing down.

[Marc @ Mar 27th 2008 6:00AM]

for it to be succesful it needs to become a recognised standard. otherwise its just another amber light randomly placed on the back of a car

[AssassinJN @ Mar 27th 2008 7:55AM]

This is old news, I even thought I invented this idea ~10 years ago now. Simple LED strip that would illuminate more LEDs the hard the brake pedal was pushed. Started looking into getting patents and what not to find that it was already accepted patents since before 1985.

[Mickel @ Mar 27th 2008 10:15AM]

Yes, I was going to say the same thing. Recently saw this when checking out the BMW web-site.

I can also remember years back someone come out with a module that would make your (secondary) brakelights or rear-foglights blink during heavy breaking. Especially useful during fog. But the European laws wouldn't allow it.

On another note, I see this being used on schoolbuses. Orange brake lights when they use their air-brake, red on full brakes.

[John Russell @ Mar 27th 2008 6:42PM]

The question is not 'who came up with it first?', but 'which one can play Doom?'

[Avatar @ Mar 26th 2008 10:45PM]

Shows you what happens when someone takes the initiative. For my freshman engineering design class there are at least five projects about this, most involving accelerometers. The best idea I saw involved two sets of lights, shaped like ice cream cones with the largest part pointing towards the outside of the car. The harder you brake, the brighter the lights got and the further apart they are. Reason why they would be further apart is when you're coming up on two lights, they move towards opposite edges of your vision and spread apart and that spreading apart seems to be built into your reflexes. In any case, I'm glad someone is doing this finally.

[Tony the Troll @ Mar 26th 2008 11:31PM]

Sorry. Perhaps I'm too cynical but...

This is just going to confuse people. No offense but most Americans (and most humans) are idiots. If they see more than one color on the back of a car they will become confused, they will not understand the concept and they will all, in unison, go momentarily insane skidding and swerving and accelerating into one another creating one gigantic pileup on every roadway in America simultaneously. If you gave them 10 years to figure it out, they would still not understand the concept and think that, as with traffic lights, yellow means go faster. All commerce will come to a screeching halt. This invention will harken the end of civilization as we know it.

[PhoenixAvatar @ Mar 26th 2008 11:36PM]

It all works on reflexes really. The brighter the lights and the faster they split apart the bigger response it triggers. This isn't really meant to be processed by your conscious mind, in a situation where this system would take effect everything would be happening too quickly. But by making it seem like the car is coming up on you faster than it is you'll be ready to hit the brakes or swerve sooner.

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 27th 2008 3:35PM]

I kid you not... my neighbor went to do her driver test and failed because she thought the yellow blinking traffic light was trying some kind of driving test trick to see if she would stop. She hit the brakes every time the light would be on.

[Carl Vitullo @ Mar 26th 2008 10:46PM]

finally.

i had the amazing idea of a little LED sign on the front and back bumper with either a keyboard or preset phrases, but then realized that it would just be used to tell people exactly what you think of their driving.

[Bloobie @ Mar 26th 2008 10:54PM]

Something similar to your idea has existed for years now. This is one of them.

http://www.streettags.com/Vehicle_window_LED_Sign_p/ns-100-er.htm

[Carl Vitullo @ Mar 26th 2008 11:32PM]

yeah, but that's not in the BUMPER.
therefore, my idea is original.

i had the same thing with those ruler/hole punch things. i designed the EXACT SAME THING in my head before having ever seen one.

[Brad @ Mar 27th 2008 12:16AM]

Well then Carl, perhaps you should execute on some of your brilliant ideas, lest the world be robbed of your genius until other poser comes along and re-invents it.

Ideas are easy. Execution is difficult. It appears you lack the latter.

[Carl Vitullo @ Mar 27th 2008 10:17PM]

well, i thought of the ruler in 6th grade, and the sign in 8th grade.

(now in tenth grade)

[Flashpoint @ Mar 26th 2008 10:46PM]

I don't want to sound like I'm downrating this product but the problem is, that even if you have brake lights showing the braking force in color increments, it still takes a human being TOO LONG to recognize a signal and then apply brakes.

The problem is that too many people follow too closely, speed and of course, AREN'T PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION due to cellphones, conversations with riders,etc.

Do you really think that people have the reflexes neccessary to interpret brake light signals and decide to apply half or full brakes in 60 mph traffic?

I don't.

[paul34 @ Mar 26th 2008 10:51PM]

Also, most people have no concept of gradual and proper brake control, especially in their 3 ton fatass SUVs. They just slam the brake all the time.

The best example is in stop and go traffic. If a car moves up a few inches in front of them... they instantly freak out, slam the gas for those few inches, then slam the brake again. Uhh, did that make you feel better? Because you're no closer to your destination. Congratulations, idiot!

sorry I have bitter memories of the highway

[Ignatius @ Mar 26th 2008 11:00PM]

And people wonder why gas is now nearly $4 a gallon.

Thank goodness I'm getting an electric car.

[jeff @ Mar 26th 2008 10:46PM]

Mercedes and BMW both have adaptive brake light systems.

[Neebs @ Mar 26th 2008 10:49PM]

VTech for the win!

[michas_pi @ Mar 27th 2008 12:01AM]

VTEC for the win!

[eugene @ Mar 26th 2008 10:59PM]

Thats pretty cool, now just make one that flashes: stop tailgating me you fucking asshat!

[spaceb @ Mar 26th 2008 11:02PM]

So it's basically Kitt's scanner lights behind the car.

[Philippe @ Mar 26th 2008 11:04PM]

What I find bad design in brake lights, is combined turn signal, brake and rear night lights in the same light encasing, all in red of course to make it less obvious.

I also vaguely remember Mercedes wanting to use flashing brake lights, which should attract more attention, and in so decrease response time.

[patsy @ Mar 27th 2008 12:01AM]

Absolutely, it's just bad design. If one of the brake lights burns out, someone intermittently stepping on their brake (as happens a lot in slow or slowing down traffic) looks like they're signaling to turn. Happens way more often than one might think, and annoys me to no end.

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 27th 2008 3:38PM]

What I dislike about these is when they are turning, but they are tapping the break so I can't tell if they are turning left or right. Lane changes especially.

[jbcaro @ Mar 26th 2008 11:06PM]

I seem to remember an experimental car back in the 70's that had tri-color tail lights. Green if you were accelerating or cruising, yellow if you were decelerating and red if you applied the brakes.

Can't remember who made it though.

[dsipe2 @ Mar 27th 2008 9:03AM]

One Word Two syllable's ..... goooo gulllll

[auto-guy @ Mar 26th 2008 11:09PM]

two points from an ex-automotive engineer....20 plus years ago, they "invented" a brake light to signal how fast your stopping by it's flash-rate. It flashed faster the hard you were braking. Very intuitive, don't you think? Faster flashing gets your attention quicker to react quicker. Second, they put CHIMSEL (center high mounted brake lights) because a small study on federal vehicles showed it decreased rear-end collisions. A subsequent university study showed that people got "immune" to the CHIMSELs and had no long term effect. & we still pay for one on each new car. Final point, the lighting institute (funded by GE) showed increase productivity with increasing lumens. That was the common wisdom until a smart-alecky prof took out every 3rd light bulb and got the same increase in productivity. change works.

[Wes Joyce @ Mar 26th 2008 11:12PM]

Woohoo Va Tech!! I live ten minutes away, its cool to see something like this on engadget! w00t

[John @ Mar 27th 2008 12:37AM]

So you live in Blacksburg, or Christiansburg.

Either way, I'm sorry.

[Wes Joyce @ Mar 27th 2008 1:06AM]

C-Burg represent hahaha

[Vincent @ Mar 26th 2008 11:12PM]

I feel safe!!
Good job and finally!!!

[hypereric @ Mar 26th 2008 11:15PM]

"Whoa, man, check out those pretty colors ... they're like pscyhe (BAM!)"

[Brian Feinzimer @ Mar 26th 2008 11:16PM]

testtt

[vdogg89 @ Mar 26th 2008 11:19PM]

i thought of this idea years ago

[StinkyPete @ Mar 26th 2008 11:19PM]

What about people who ride their brakes? At least they won't burn out as quick...

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 27th 2008 3:41PM]

You know what the life of an LED is? Burning out isn't going to be a problem. Your car will likely fall apart before they fail.

[Silly idea @ Mar 26th 2008 11:23PM]

I don't know about where you guys and girls live, but orange is the colour for turn indicators. To have it used for any other reason is counter productive and potentially dangerous. This idea ranks up there with clear indicator lenses that flash "kinda maybe on a good day if we are lucky" orange but more than often a orange tinted white light, that is if you can even see them in the daylight. Of course those flashing 'white" which is the colour of headlights/reverse lights, (read:oncoming indication), rank nicely on the "this concept has no brains" listy-o-dumbcarthings.

[Shadowfox952 @ Mar 26th 2008 11:26PM]

Why do they keep putting "smart" on everything, even if the product isn't really "thinking"?

I think we need more "smart" buyers and less "smart" advertising.

[robogeek @ Mar 26th 2008 11:55PM]

Probably because they thought "Digital autoranging decelerometer indicator System" to be to verbose.