BMW working on Laser Light headlamps

BMW Dynamic Light Spot and Laser Light technology 14.10.2011

Dynamic Light Spot and the future laser light headlamps demonstrate evolution of lighting technology

BMW is working on two new technologies to create the headlights of the future.

The first is called Dynamic Spot Light, a technology that can better focus the headlight beams to highlight objects encountered on the road such as pedestrians or animals at night. BMW says the technology will help avoid accidents where pedestrians are not seen in time or collisions with animals lurking on darkened roads.

The second technology BMW hopes to bring to its production cars in the next couple of years is Laser Light headlamps.

Referred to as the next step after LED technology, a laser-beam sourced headlight can produce light with an intensity a thousand times greater than current LEDs but because of their "coherence" (laser light is monochromatic, which means the light waves are all of the same length) will require about half the energy that current LED lights do.

Source: BMW

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dmanero

as great as this idea might be, how long will it take for the health board place a ban on the use of laser headlights because of eye damage or some stupid like that

October 14, 2011 9:45 am

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3 replies

SebXX

how "stupid" is exactly caring about our eyes ? :) I'm all for efficiency and better car lights, but it has to be perfect. And I'm scared when it'll be available on the aftersale market. (seeing already all non-stock HID making us blind)

October 14, 2011 2:42 pm

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archytype

Isn't this illegal? Laser light in someones eye is blinding! Why not clear a road with a missile?

October 14, 2011 4:58 pm

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1 reply

Jon88ix

Laser does not mean damaging to the eyes. For most applications a laser would be used for an extremely high intensity light over a very small area but, in this case BMW is using lasers since they are monochromatic. Therefore no wasted energy on useless frequencies like IR or for that matter even UV (harmful to the eyes). With lasers which are also monodirectional from their source a diverging lens can effectively be used to direct the light in front of the driver and not in the oncoming traffics' lane or eyes of the oncoming driver.

October 15, 2011 4:00 pm

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Prince_Ash

honestly BMW has always tried to be innovative and try new things to force other car companies to either match them or go farther. I honestly hope BMW makes this available within the next 3 - 4 years. would be very intresting to see it in action in person. PS: I just realised, The green laser I have at home for personal use, has a max range of 2.5 miles! so.. why not make these headlights have an illumination range of lets say 1/4 a mile? maybe even half a mile. would make seeing things on the road much safer as long as people dont use the high beams all the time lol.

October 14, 2011 1:09 pm

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nforspeed91

Yea and other companies force BMW to match them or go farther as well so what's your point?

October 14, 2011 3:30 pm

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out4ride

@prince_ash yes BMW has always tried to be innovative but lately they are behind in the game. It almost seems they are following. Just as an example use of DSG which is renamed by BMW or direct injection engines or even giving into all weel drive. I can't tell they came out with the idea since Audi A2 uses laser tail lights already. BMW needs to up it's game quick

October 14, 2011 1:42 pm

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progressive

How about 8gear automatic now available. This laser lights, are never been used before. BMW is the most inovative company in the world, and very different, and bold. The i subbrand is example. I don't see Audi producing e-tron.

October 16, 2011 1:35 am

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TorroRosso

While I like the idea, how much will it cost? Because I'm rather fine with current LED tech, this might just cost an arm, a leg and two teeth to replace!

October 14, 2011 11:06 pm

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jon_leong

Dr. Evil: You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have "Cars" with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads!

October 16, 2011 5:25 pm

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Ivo_205

LOL. Seriously though, I think this is the only thing BMW can do given the massive success of Audi's LED headlights. BMW is already implementing the same thing with the new 1 series and 6 series so they are being perceiced as following Audi's lead, al least with regards to the lights technology. Obviously this will not do for BMW so the only rational thing to do is go for Laser. The fact that it seems to use less energy than LED's and gives more visibility are added bonuses.

October 16, 2011 11:46 pm

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