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The initiating factors behind the research were Volkswagen's Design Department's wish to receive computer support as well as a NPRM from NHTSA. Vehicle parameters (headlamp height, distance between headlamps, headlamp photometric data), were incorporated into a computer program resulting in a computer display showing illumination of the road surface and various targets. The total results of the computer calculations were compared to free-field measurements performed under exactly the same conditions. Insights gained from these investigations prove decisive as far as the direction in which future work should proceed and what can be incorporated therefrom in standards and regulations.

In the middle of 2006, the first car equipped with an intelligent AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) headlamp went into serial production and has, until now, generated a very positive reaction in the press all over the world. The different AFS beam patterns in this car are generated by a Xenon AFS projector module, which works in combination with a swiveling actuator system. One of the big innovative steps in automotive front-lighting technology that is soon to be released is the introduction of the LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a new light source for headlamp applications. The benchmark for this new light source technology is of course the well accepted performance level of today's HID headlamp systems. On the one hand, it is very important to achieve the HID performance level in terms of luminous flux, peak intensities, distribution characteristics, homogeneity and other positive attributes.

Since the issuance of the SAE Paper 820 487 in Spring 82 some requirements and standards have been either newly issued, amended, changed or updated. Aerodynamic headlamps with replaceable halogen bulbs and center high mounted stoplamps have been introduced to mention some important changes. This presentation is a compilation of the current requirements and standards and shows the status of their harmonizations.