The days of lights simply serving their primary function of lighting the way are long past. Automotive lighting is intelligent and interactive, no longer restricted to high and low beam, but an almost living entity that knows when to dim to avoid blinding other road users and even seeking out and highlighting potential hazards ahead to the driver. It can now be used to communicate with other motorists and illuminate a specific route through roadworks or other hazards – and of course it can give a vehicle a distinctive look that identifies it from a distance.

Audi has long been at the very forefront of automotive light development, using the latest of techniques and materials to create ever more intricate and engaging lighting systems that turn the night into day and so much more.

Michael Kruppa, Head of Front Lighting Development, has been responsible for various areas of development at Audi for more than a decade, working in the development department of a lighting manufacturer in materials and LED innovations after earning his doctorate from the University of Regensburg. After joining Audi in 2013, he held various management positions in Technical Development before taking on the responsibility for the development and strategy of modern headlight systems – including digital matrix LED technologies – in 2022. Considered one of the leading experts in the field, he is regularly called upon to speak at international conferences and for his expertise on the subject.

At Audi, along with his development team, Dr Kruppa plays a key role in ensuring that each new Audi provides the best possible road safety even in poor visibility and darkness, building on the brand’s significant reputation for excellence in the field.

As to why superior lighting is so important, the answer is of course a no-brainer, says Dr Kruppa.

“On the one hand, as a driver, I want to illuminate the area I’m driving into as well as possible so that I feel safe and can see clearly,” he says.

“On the other hand, it is very important that other road users see me in time. Often, just a few seconds make a crucial difference in avoiding a dangerous situation. Seeing and being seen is the be-all and end-all in road traffic.’

To that end, Audi’s work with increasingly intelligent lighting is very much leading the way, using advanced technology that makes the lighting work for the driver wherever possible.

“Intelligent lighting actively adapts to the driving situation and provides added safety for all road users,” says Dr Kruppa.

“Our matrix LED headlights detect vehicles ahead and oncoming traffic and automatically block out light that would blind them. The driver therefore no longer has to operate the high beams manually. This ensures that you always have enough light in front of you, can stay focused for longer, and drive more safely as a result.”

“The most innovative lighting development we currently use in front lighting at Audi are the digital matrix LED headlights. They have numerous adaptive lighting functions and can project light images directly onto the road – it’s intelligent and inspiring at the same time.

Despite the advanced technology though, the fundamentals of good lighting remain the same.

“The basic requirement is that the light works reliably. When I switch it on, it must be there immediately. Beyond that, we can now influence many parameters, such as brightness and colour. There have recently been major advances in LED technology.” 

“Our development activities over the past four or five years have led us to start digitalising lighting technologies, such as LED technology. At the same time, we are continually optimising other aspects.”

“Our digital matrix LED headlights with micro-LED technology are particularly impressive due to their smaller installation space, lower weight and higher efficiency. They also have greater luminosity with better contrast, which means they perform better in difficult visibility conditions.”

“We have developed a light source in such a way that we can almost use it like a video projector. The micro-LED module, which is approximately 13 millimetres wide, has a chip with 25,600 tiny micro-LEDs – each measuring approximately 40 micrometres – that can be controlled individually. This allows the system to adjust the light image on the road depending on the situation.”

“For instance, the light guidance functions, known as lane guidance and orientation lights, are now much more closely linked to the driver assistance functions,” says Kruppa.

This technology is also finding its way right throughout the Audi range, where once these advanced systems were reserved for the large, luxury models, the technology is increasingly finding its way into more accessible modes within the brand’s range.

“We are introducing the digital matrix LED headlights with this new micro-LED technology for the first time in the compact class in the new Q3 for example. As a result, we can offer our customers even greater safety.”

For drivers, this new technology means the use of things like the ‘orientation light’ where two lines are projected onto the road to help them stay in the middle of their lane – particularly helpful in poor visibility conditions and when driving through road works for example. 

When driving on the highway, the projected light image changes, with the car ‘aware’ that it is on the highway and can illuminate its lane dynamically. When changing lanes, that too is indicated on the road, assisting other drivers by giving them additional warning that you are about to change lanes.

All this is made possible by the digital matrix LED headlights with Audi’s new micro-LED technology as used in the Audi Q3. It provides Audi customers with orientation and safety, and ultimately a positive feeling behind the wheel, but should you feel that this is somehow an overreach or inappropriate at any given time, you can also deactivate these functions in the MMI.

Of course, in addition to is obvious safety benefits, this new lighting technology also creates recognition value. For many years now, it has been easy to identify specific Audi models from their distinctive light signatures. Audi customers now have numerous options to personalise their lighting, with several different digital light signatures, along with matching coming home/leaving home lighting scenarios, which can be selected in the MMI.

Obviously, quality lighting has always been an important part of automotive design, but these days, says Dr Kruppa, “good lighting means that I can see more, I am more visible, and I can react faster to any situation. Modern digital lighting systems take road safety to a new level.”

And while doing things for their safety application is all well and good, at the end of the day, Audi’s modern lighting also looks very, very cool.