CES: Laser Headlights Edge Closer To Real-World Highways

jeffb (2.718) writes "Audi will display laser-headlight technology on a concept car at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, joining BMW, whose plug-in hybrid should reach production in 2014. A November article on optics.org describes the technology in more detail. This approach does not scan or project a 'laser beam' from the car; instead, it uses blue lasers as highly efficient light emitters, and focuses their light onto a yellow phosphor, producing an extremely intense and compact white light source and then forming that light into a conventional headlamp beam. The beam isn't coherent or point-sourced, so it won't produce the 'speckling' interference effects of direct laser illumination, and it won't pose specular-reflection hazards. It's just a very bright and very well-controlled beam of normal white light.

meme

[confused one]

Now, to make the meme complete, we need a car model named "shark".

Re:meme

[Nidi62]

We just need someone to make a startup auto company named Friggin. The Shark could then be their first model.

Awesome

[Kenshin]

Awesome. So now all those assholes in luxury cars can have even brighter headlights to blind me in my mirrors.

Re:Movie

[Jeremi]

The primary advantage seems to be that it improves visibility in foggy conditions.

The secondary advantage is that if you remove your headlight covers, you can light the car in front of you on fire with the touch of a button.

Re:meme

[oodaloop]

Then maybe we could jump it.

Re: meme

[confused one]

A CEO somewhere in Korea is stroking his white cat...

Re: Stronger headlights

[PPH]

Anti-tailgating tail lights.

If they looked like a deathstar beam weapon charging up, even better.

Re:Movie

[ChrisMaple]

Good. Now put 4 bags of cement in the trunk, and blind oncoming traffic.