Press Release
Continental makes Street Lights Smart
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At the ITS World Congress in Bordeaux Continental reveals the future of street lighting
Intelligent street light controls improve infrastructure
Diagnostic features report light’s state
Intelligent street lights are one element of automated driving
Bordeaux, October 6, 2015. For the first time, the international automotive supplier Continental will
also make its automotive expertise available to the infrastructure beyond the vehicle. At booth B41
of the ITS, the world’s largest congress for intelligent transport systems and services, Continental
will demonstrate its smart street light of the future in Bordeaux, France, from October 5-9, 2015.
Out on the streets the next revolution is about to begin – at least when it comes to street lighting.
After oil lamps, gas lamps, and electric street lights, the triumphal march of LEDs (light-emitting
diodes) in street light is now underway. In a few years, the majority of street lights will be fitted with
LEDs. The benefits of LEDs are so significant that in some cases operators are replacing existing
lamps even before they have reached the end of their usual service life. In addition to drastic energy savings of around one third, LED light also requires significantly less maintenance. LEDs are
long lasting and “do not fail all at the same time,” making the planning of maintenance work considerably easier and more efficient.
Street lights become intelligent
Yet this is only the beginning. Street lights also have the potential to massively improve road safety
and convenience thanks to the use of electronics and sensors that turn street lights intelligent -into a sort of “Street Light 4.0.” As Alfred Waldhaeusl, coordinating this project at Continental, explains: “The use of LEDs means that the electronics required for control, diagnostics, and communication are already present in the street lights.” The increasing use of LEDs is unstoppable. “Today, LED street lights are pretty much the only type available. Based on normal service life, within
15 to 20 years almost all street lights will be LED”, Waldhaeusel adds.
The introduction of electronics opens up entirely new possibilities. The diagnostic function, which
reports the failure of a light to the operators, provides the information channel required to be able
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Your contact:
Ilona Tzudnowski, Phone: +49 6196 87-2515
to forward sensor data as well. Waldhaeusl gives the following example: “Sensors enable us to
identify whether parking spaces in the vicinity of the light are occupied. We can then provide this
information either directly or via a cloud to drivers who are looking for a parking space nearby. This
way we improve parking management, revenues, and the CO2 footprint of municipalities.”
Moving objects can also be detected. Brightness could therefore be adjusted to match requirements, depending on whether a pedestrian, cyclist, or car is approaching, or the light could even
be switched off entirely. “We could also identify accidents and not just ensure rapid assistance but
also warn following vehicles,” says Waldhaeusl as he expands upon the theme, “there are no limits
to our imagination.” Intelligent street light control could also play a key role in automated driving.
Additional key elements include recording environmental factors such as brightness, temperature,
rain, snow, and the formation of ice. In the future and as an additional benefit, LED street lights
could also be equipped with charging stations for electric vehicles.
Continental anticipates a wide range of different versions. Basic LED street lights will provide light
only, although they will still require an electronic LED driver to do so. At the next level, LED street
lights will include diagnostic functions and therefore automatically provide a communication channel. As Waldhaeusl explains: “At stage three, all sorts of smart features will be added, probably
also with a number of different levels.” For example, Continental engineers are currently considering the addition of service features that Continental could make available to vehicles with suitable
receiver units.
Technological and manufacturing expertise
“As a system component manufacturer, Continental aims to offer light manufacturers, municipalities, and utility companies our LED and ITS expertise gained from vehicle technology and also our
manufacturing capacity for the manufacture of large quantities of high-quality, low-cost electronic
components,” states Waldhaeusl, summarizing the reasons why Continental has ventured into a
field beyond the automotive arena. In the light of a dramatic increase in demand for LED lights,
their rapid and economic production will be of major importance. In the field of street lighting,
France has always been something of a pioneer and today it is once again at the forefront of innovation. The city of Toulouse, for example, is strongly committed to the ongoing development of its
street light. Some of these intelligent LED street lights are already illuminating the streets of Toulouse. For approximately the last two years, Toulouse has also been home to the development of
intelligent Continental street lights. Toulouse is now enabling Continental to carry out the first field
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Your contact:
Ilona Tzudnowski, Phone: +49 6196 87-2515
tests in an actual city environment.
Intelligent Street Light Control by Continental
At booth B41 in the “Safety & Security of Advanced Traffic Management Systems” zone of the ITS
World Congress held from October 5–9, 2015 in Bordeaux, France, Continental will be demonstrating the street light of the future under the slogan: “Information Management – in the Vehicle and
Beyond.” The following list provides an overview of some of the advantages of intelligent street
light control:
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A rapid return on investment and additional benefits due to energy savings through LEDs
and needs-based light adjustment
A contribution towards the goals of “Clean Power” and “Vision Zero”
Continental combines LED light expertise from the automotive industry with manufacturing
experience for high volume of production and highest quality requirements
Intelligent street light control can combine different sensors and be integrated into an ITS
infrastructure
Intelligent street light control improves road safety and reduces emissions
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual,
and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated sales of approximately €34.5 billion with its five divisions
Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tires, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs more than 205,000 people in
53 countries.
In the Interior division, everything revolves around information management in the vehicle and beyond. The range of
products for various vehicle categories includes instruments, multifunction displays, head-up displays, control devices,
access and tire information systems, radios, infotainment and operating systems, climate control units, software and
cockpits, telematics solutions and services, and intelligent transport systems. Interior employs over 36,000 employees
worldwide. In 2014, it recorded sales of approximately €7.0 billion.
Contact for journalists
Ilona Tzudnowski
Continental
Press Spokesperson, Interior Division
Phone: +49 6196 87-2515
E-mail: ilona.tzudnowski@continental-corporation.com
This press release is available in the following languages: English, French, and German
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Homepage: www.continental-corporation.com
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Your contact:
Ilona Tzudnowski, Phone: +49 6196 87-2515