Laser based projection system for traffic collision prevention

Laser based lighting offers the possibility for new applications in automotive industry. Using dynamic lighting engines novel collision prevention concepts can be realized and, thus, the number of accidents reduced. In particular, the risk of accidents caused by open car doors which often lead to serious injuries can be decreased. For this case, the task is to provide a suitable visual communication system between a front vehicle and the following traffic participants. Consequently, we propose a compact laser based lighting system which will be installed on the sides of the vehicle to project an alert symbol whenever the passenger intends to open the door so that the following cyclist can prevent the collision. The key element of the lighting system consists of a holographic optical element made of Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) which is realized by using maskless photolithographic technology. The element is designed to project a tailored alert symbol upon illumination with laser light fulfilling the legal requirements with regard to shape and luminous flux. In our work we will present the current status of the project and discuss the recent results obtained.