BMW Builds a Headlight with Frickin' Lasers
BMW Builds a Headlight with Frickin' Lasers
Posted 09/06/2011 at 10:04am
| by Paul Lilly
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Sharks with lasers are admittedly awesome, but of little practical value. Automobile headlamps, on the other hand, make for a much more worthwhile application, and it looks like BMW will be the first to answer the call. These will ultimately replace LED lighting and bring about several advantages over today's best and brightest headlights.
According to Asia One Motoring, laser lighting shines a thousand times brighter than LEDs in a near-parallel beam, so there's one obvious benefit: better visibility. Laser headlights also consume 50 percent less energy than your typical LED headlight, so there's your second benefit. And if you're worried about burning a hole in a pedestrian caught in the glare, don't be. Laser light in headlamps is first converted into a form that isn't harmful to living creatures, so you won't leave a trail of burned up carcasses as you motor through the neighborhood.
What you end up with is a bright, energy efficient light source that, if BMW engineers chose to do so (and so far they haven't said they would), they could reduce the size of headlamps. What they are planning to do is to play around with headlight positioning to allow for an all new body style, one that could improve performance and gas mileage.
Image Credit: BMW
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US_Ranger
September 06, 2011 at 5:09pm
Imagine the small fender bender in the parking lot. You're probably going to be looking at a good 3,000 dollar headlight/bumper replacement.
Asterixx
September 06, 2011 at 3:16pm
One step closer to my Electro Pedestrian Bastard Ray... Pity I'd have to drive a BMW to get it...
don2041
September 06, 2011 at 2:32pm
Not that this has anything to do with my computer Paul ,how about blinding oncoming traffic in the glare
TerribleToaster
September 07, 2011 at 5:09am
Because lasers travel in essentially one direction and they must be diffused to have a light spread, they would probaly be better for dealing with glare as the light is far more directional and thus won't have any leakage outside where you want it to be. That's what I really see as the primary advantage.
stradric
September 06, 2011 at 11:35am
So it's brighter and more energy efficient... How about life? I'd imagine these cost a pretty penny to replace (as do the LEDs).
Caboose
September 07, 2011 at 8:44am
LEDs last a lot longer than a standard bulb (is why I've replaced all the interior and exterior bulbs in my car with LEDs (headlights and foglights are HIDs), the laser should last insanely longer.
But ya, if you DO have to replace the part out of warranty, the cost will be high. But hey, if you can afford a BMW, you can afford to replace the headlight.
JohnP
September 07, 2011 at 8:49pm
Hey, I did the same thing. I replaced all my lamps with LEDs and my headlights with HID drop-ins. And yes, I have read all about how HID replacement lamps are "bad" mainly due to cutoffs err, being off. I did a side by side with the original Halogen bulb and the HIDs and the top cutoff was actually BETTER with the HID (more light sprayed to the outside tho).It also helped with the backup lights being too dim in the Ody.
The interior with 6500K LEDs looks great with its pure white light.
All in all a worthwhile project for the two cars.
Caboose
September 08, 2011 at 7:46am
The standard reflector housing in most car headlamps are not designed for HIDs and they perform very poorly, with the light being scattered. Projector housings are designed to work with most HIDs and perform a lot better.
Also, 6500K is more of an Ice white (hint of blue) than pure white. 4300K-5000K is more of the pure white, 4100K has a hint of yellow in it.
I have 6000K switchbacks in place of my OEM turn signal bulbs (white when parking lights on, and amber/off when turn signal engaged), and compared to my Silverstar Ultras (4300K Halogens), the switchbacks have a blue tint to them, and my Halogens are more pure white.
MrGeek
September 06, 2011 at 10:18am
"And if you're worried about burning a hole in a pedestrian caught in the glare, don't be. Laser light in headlamps is first converted into a form that isn't harmful to living creatures, so you won't leave a trail of burned up carcasses as you motor through the neighborhood."
So little Joe The Haxxor will remove the headlight catalytic converted and voila... Darth Vader on wheels...
TerribleToaster
September 06, 2011 at 10:52am
It's doubtful that, even unscreened, the lasers they are using would radiate more energy than it would take to be mildly irritating, possibly give you a sun burn after extended exposure.
What is far more likely to kill whatever you happen to be shining your headlights on is the large 1-2 ton chunk of plastic and metal hurling at them at 60 mph.
majorsuave
September 06, 2011 at 10:39am
"you won't leave a trail of burned up carcasses as you motor through the neighborhood."
You lost me there
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