Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) headlight methods are one of many coolest options discovered on fashionable vehicles. And, no, I am not speaking about merely flicking the excessive beams on and off when your car detects an oncoming automotive. These adaptive headlights can change the trajectory of your headlight’s beam to keep away from blinding oncoming drivers—properly, in case you’re not within the U.S., that’s.

Polestar specifically has a really cool method of doing this. Polestar’s Pixel LED headlights are present in fashions just like the Polestar 2, and whereas its {hardware} and car software program capabilities stay pretty modular world wide, its U.S. vehicles don’t include the function activated due to federal car security laws requiring a significant change in Polestar’s world {hardware}. So Polestar homeowners are taking it upon themselves to activate this function with a particular cable and a few software program.

A walkthrough first hit Polestar Forum final August as member aHolyDuck discovered a technique to modify a management module throughout the automotive utilizing just a few items of software program.

First, homeowners must buy a subscription to Volvo’s Polestar Tech Hub. This runs round $73 for 3 days of entry and contains VIDA, which stands for Car Data and Diagnostics for Aftersales. VIDA is software program that interfaces with Volvo’s Diagnostic Communication Tools (DiCE) {hardware} diagnostic software. When paired collectively, it permits techs to carry out diagnostic procedures, recalibrate modules, and extra with just about any Volvo constructed after 1999.

Subsequent, whereas working a take a look at with VIDA, aHolyDuck captured the site visitors being transferred from the DiCE interface to VIDA utilizing Wireshark, a packet evaluation software sometimes utilized by these within the IT discipline to diagnose network-based issues. The packet seize allowed the consumer to extract PINs for the Central Electronics Module (CEM) and Car Connectivity Module (VGM).

These PINs are then used at the side of software program known as OrBit which permits the proprietor to program the CEM and activate region-locked options just like the Pixel headlights.

One wrench within the gears, in accordance with aHolyDuck, was that at the least one in all Polestar’s over-the-air updates has reset this function however it may very well be reactivated utilizing the identical course of. One other consumer reported that this course of resulted of their VIN being “blacklisted as per Polestar engineering” once they took their automotive in for service.

So why do that? Briefly: it is cool.

It is pretty widespread for automotive fanatics to envy options and merchandise present in different world markets. Once I was huge into the Volkswagen scene over a decade in the past, I discovered myself dumping numerous {dollars} into the opening of OEM+ and Euro-spec elements for my vehicles. The identical goes for different model vehicles I’ve owned through the years. However ADB headlights aren’t only for seems to be, they really serve a goal: not blinding oncoming drivers when your excessive beams are on.

Here is what Polestar says about its Pixel headlights:

Go away the headlights on excessive beam. The good, safety-enhancing Pixel LED expertise adapts to mild and climate circumstances to offer an optimum view with out blinding different drivers.

Whereas Europe has had ADB headlights on its roads since 2012, the U.S. has been dragging its ft on this. The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) formally issued a final ruling to approve the tech back in 2022, nonetheless, the NHTSA has not but finalized a proper testing process for producer compliance. Some automakers have begun delivery vehicles with the {hardware} for this tech, however it stays unused for Polestar, Hyundai, Tesla, Volkswagen, and different automakers who’re delivery vehicles with unactivated {hardware}.

Even nonetheless, the requirements drift from the Financial Fee for Europe’s regulations. For instance, U.S. security requirements allow for a lot dimmer headlights (even with ADB). These discrepancies have seemingly made implementing the tech a bit tougher for automakers which have current suitable {hardware} already deployed within the U.S. fleet.

So for now, the one probability at getting ADB headlights within the U.S. is hacking away at your car, at the least in case you personal a Polestar, Ford F-150 Lightning, or a choose few different vehicles that homeowners have found out find out how to hack.