Not Taken Lightly: Ford’s Solution to Off-Road Lighting Systems

Photo Source: Ford

Quality lighting is a crucial addition to any vehicle. Whether a purpose-built overlander or a daily-driven weekend warrior, there is no better way to improve low-light visibility on the trail than high-output auxiliary lighting. The automotive aftermarket is flooded with off-road-centric lighting, including LED light bars, round lights, pods, and cubes. With so many options, it can be challenging to narrow down which are the best performers. During the day, that could mean having effective windshield wipers and anti-glare decals on the hood. As a matter of fact, even before nightfall, the need for powerful lighting is necessary. As the sun falls below the treetops or mountains, powerful lighting systems can help the driver see all of the trail and pick the most adequate line. However, not all off-road lighting systems are created equal.

Dynamics of Off-Roading Technology

Due to recent developments in LED technology, the demand for off-road lighting systems has increased in recent years. Indeed, the global off-road lighting systems market is expected to exhibit significant growth between 2023 and 2030, owing to recent innovations that have made off-road vehicles more secure. Speaking of security, Ford Authority has confirmed that the Ford brand filed a patent on November 10th, 2021, and published it on May 11th, 2023. The 13-page document specifically underscores the need for off-road lighting control systems and methods. The fact that such an innovation may be successfully applied to Ford vehicles in the future comes as no surprise, as Ford has been emphasizing off-roading for quite some time. 

As mentioned, the popularity of off-roading only continues to grow, and the Blue Oval is making every intention to stay ahead of the game, with patents including an automatic drive model lighting system, an off-road drivability guidance system, dimmable external vehicle lighting, and a detachable lighting assembly for vehicles.

The Risky Business of Off-Roading

The conundrum that many off-road enthusiasts face is that, often, the addition of aftermarket off-road lighting has not been constructed with the idea of incorporating it into the vehicle’s control systems. Therefore, the driver is dealing with uncharted territory that could potentially pose a danger. For example, owners may not know whether the lights are on or off because said lights were not meant to work in conjunction with the vehicle to begin with. 

Moreover, even if the driver manages to make the lights function without a hitch, the issue of off-road lighting being far too bright to be used on public roads still remains. At that point, the lighting system becomes perilous for both the owner as well as surrounding automobiles, which explains why relying on these lights on public roads is typically forbidden in various areas.

The Ford Solution

As such, Ford has adopted a relatively simple solution to the problems at hand. When off-road lighting is mounted to the outside of a vehicle, a system that includes a controller, a processor, and memory will be used to determine the “category” of a road; that is to say, the processor executes instructions to decide what type of road the vehicle is on. The automobile is detected by utilizing location-based information that automatically controls the off-road lighting based on whether the car is on a public road or an off-road trail. If the vehicle is on the former, the lights are set up to turn themselves off. 

Ford Authority claims the idea “could very well prove useful in the real world, and as such, may eventually wind up being available on future Ford vehicles.”

If the potential of Ford’s inventiveness has you riveted, please come visit Sunrise Ford. After all, if you are excited about getting a new car, so are we. In fact, we are more than excited to assist our customers; we are elated. If you are searching for a new option to buy or lease, take a look at our new vehicle inventory or our quality pre-owned vehicles. We are happy to be your dealership home.