Method for reducing headlight glare, headlight system and system controller for controlling a headlight system

A system controller for controlling a headlight system of a vehicle to reduce glare experienced by a user of the vehicle, the system controller comprising:

• an input for receiving image data of an illuminated environment external to the vehicle;
• a processing module arranged to perform a first analysis and a second analysis of brightness values of the image data, the first analysis being performed to identify reflective surfaces that may cause glare and the second analysis being performed to categorise the identified reflective surfaces into at least two categories, wherein the first analysis comprises comparing the brightness values to a first threshold, categorising surfaces corresponding to image data having brightness values which do not exceed the first threshold into a first category corresponding to a low level of glare, and categorising surfaces corresponding to image data having brightness values which do exceed the first threshold as reflective surfaces that may cause glare, and wherein the second analysis comprises comparing the brightness values of the image data corresponding to the reflective surfaces to a second threshold, categorising the reflective surfaces corresponding to image data having brightness values which do not exceed the second threshold into a second category corresponding to a medium level of glare, and categorising the reflective surfaces corresponding to image data having brightness values which do exceed the second threshold into a third category corresponding to a high level of glare;
• a control module configured to generate output signals, the output signals being arranged to adjust light output from at least one headlight of the headlight system in the direction of each identified reflective surface in the at least two categories, in dependence on the first and second analyses, wherein adjusting the light output from the at least one headlight comprises reducing a beam intensity of the at least one headlight by a first amount in a direction of reflective surfaces categorised into the second category, and reducing a beam intensity of the at least one headlight by a second amount in a direction of reflective surfaces categorised into the third category;
• and
• an output arranged to output the output signals to the at least one headlight of the vehicle.