Mazda Develops LED Turn Signal That Pulses Like A Human Heart

Mazda recently revealed how it created a new type of turn signal to mimic the beating of the human heart, and how the task proved to be surprisingly difficult. The gently pulsing turn signal debuted on the Mazda CX-30 and was designed by Atsushi Yoshida, the automaker's lamp development leader. While LED lamps have many advantages, he claims that their habit of turning on and off instantly makes them feel cold and digital.

That posed a problem for the designer, who stated that Mazda places a high value on "human-centric designs." As a result, its designers concentrate on how every aspect of a vehicle is perceived, not only by those inside a Mazda, but also by those outside of one. As a result, he came up with the idea of making the turn signal more human by making it pulse like a heartbeat. "A turn signal lamp must effectively communicate a driver's intention while also attracting pedestrians and other drivers' attention," Yoshida said. "I hoped that the feeling of a human heart, echoed in how the turn signal lamp appears instantly and then gradually dims, would reduce driver tension and create feelings of calmness and safety for the viewer."

Yoshida says he studied electrocardiograms to get the rhythm right, watching the waveforms created by a heartbeat and studying how they lingered and diminished rather than simply turning on or off. While that may appear to be a simple enough concept to implement, the turn signal proved to be a deceptively difficult product to develop.

"A significant setback occurred when its first scheduled installation into the Mazda3 was cancelled due to inconsistent light dimming," Yoshida explained. "However, in collaboration with Mazda engineers and our supplier, Stanley Electric Co., Ltd., we repeatedly readjusted the signal light in 0.01 second increments, solved the problem, and successfully installed it."

Now, the designer hopes that the "Dimming Turn Signals" will demonstrate to motorists how much care Mazda takes with each of its vehicles. "I want to contribute to Mazda's design value through lighting," he says. "Although competition is heating up with electric cars and self-driving cars, I want to see outstanding car design continue unabated."