Matrix LED headlamps now coming to motorcycles

Matrix LEDs first came to cars over 10 years ago.

For the first time, Matrix LED headlights will be available on a production motorcycle. Japanese manufacturer Yamaha is introducing them on its Tracer 9 Tourer.

Matrix LEDs first came to cars over 10 years ago.  The system comprises a set of individual LEDs in the headlight that can work independently, offering a better and more precise use of the available light. It prevents dazzling the eyes of other road users and can automatically dim your high beam quicker than you could do so yourself. It can also aim the light where you’re going, adjusting the lighting as needed when you’re in lighter or darker environments, and taking note of the surroundings, including vehicles in front and behind, urban areas, and even pedestrians.

A Yamaha spokesperson said, “It was almost silly, but we had to test lots, across Europe and in Japan. It was many miles, and we started looking at this system in something like 2019 or 2020. After that, we started the mass production development, but it wasn’t easy.”

He continued, “The technology is from the automobile sector, but the automobile doesn’t lean and is already flat, with no lean or pitch,” they continued. “A motorcycle always leans, so we had to completely remake the system to suit the motorcycle.”

“To detect people, bicycles, cars… everything, it’s all hard to make it smooth and effective as it can mis-detect, and it’s hard to create perfect software – we just try to make it as perfect as possible and that’s exactly what we have done.”

The Yamaha Tracer 9 has a front-mounted camera to detect any movement ahead. Data is then fed through the ECU and determines how much lighting is to be fed. This is also adjustable and can be overridden by the rider.

Source: Motorcycle News