German Future Prize Awarded for Revolutionary Smart Headlight Technology

Researchers honored for developing digital LED headlights that enhance road safety and enable innovative applications.

The 2024 German Future Prize was awarded to a team from ams OSRAM International and the Fraunhofer Institute for their groundbreaking smart headlight technology.
The innovation features a digital LED matrix with 25,600 individually controllable pixels, allowing precise and adaptive lighting on the road.
Key benefits include improved safety by preventing oncoming drivers from being blinded and projecting useful symbols, like frost warnings, onto the road.
The technology also integrates with augmented reality, enabling potential applications such as turning the headlights into a virtual display when paired with AR glasses.
The prize, presented by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, recognizes solutions to societal challenges with strong economic potential and includes a €250,000 award.