With regard to autonomous driving, on-road projections cannot only be used for communication with the driver but also with other road users. Our study aims to investigate the distraction potential for other road users when on-road projections (e.g., for driver assistance) are used to communicate with the driver of the projecting vehicle. We perform this investigation in a blind study with 38 test persons who are overtaken six times on a constant motorway section by the projection vehicle. The distraction potential is examined with an eye-tracking system, which detects the direction of the subjects’ gaze. In addition, the subjects’ physiological perception of the headlight projection is recorded with a questionnaire afterward. Several test subjects looked at the projection for less than one second, which is well below the critical threshold for the distraction of 1.6 s. In the interviews, on the other hand, only one of the 38 test persons stated that a projection on the road was recognized. For the examined scenario, it is therefore deduced that on-road projections with the selected symbol shape and brightness do not lead to critical distraction.

By exploiting their inherent elasticity, focus-variable silicone lenses shift their focal length reversibly when deformed. Although biconcave and meniscus lenses contribute to optical systems just as well as biconvex lenses, studies primarily revolve around the latter. Thus, we aim to reveal the focal length shifting potential of all aforementioned lens types. Covering a wide parameter range of varying lens curvature radii, we present a coupled mechanical and optical simulation in which a lens deformation is applied. The results show significant differences in focal length shifting effectiveness for different lens types. Within the domains of specific lens types, trends in this effectiveness emerge for different combinations of curvature radii. Matching these radii when incorporating adaptive silicone lenses in optical systems may guide optics engineers toward more effective system designs through this study.