- Better methods of preventing accidental activation for high-output EDC lights, think firearms safeties or physical blockers. I’m actually amazed nobody has implemented this, and the button on small hotrods not being recessed or having a significant lip around them is IMHO unacceptable
- More emitters having high-CRI options, better tint for those that exist, and even better color rendering (i.e. Optisolis and similar) Imagine how popular an 85+ CRI X-PL HI with good tint would be…
- Better battery chemistry (26650, 18350 and 16340 are falling way behind whereas 18650 and 21700 have the new hotness)
- Multi-button UIs
- Easier methods of UI flashing/updates
- Exotic/innovative driver designs like constant-current instead of regulated/FET+PWM
More seriously though, I’m pretty sure there’s more left to do with flashlights. People here have barely scratched the surface of some of the fancier stuff, like constant current drivers and tint ramping and, um, items which aren’t ridiculously overpowered.
But I think tech-based changes might slow down as LEDs get closer and closer to the maximum theoretical efficiency, and as the improvements delve into fine-tuning instead of broad strokes.
- Emitter efficiency increases (less heat & more output)
- Light products that can be configured and controlled via BT/Wifi/remote control/app (already exists, but more mainstream)
- Tint mixing/adjustment/control while light product is in use
- Lights that automatically adjust output based on external factors (light, sound, signals, other sensors)
- New lightweight/robust materials for the body
Potentially new form factors for light products
As we have now seen with other electric innovations, the future of energy lies partly in how energy is stored and how dense this storage is. So new battery chemistries and form factors will play a significant role.
I would like to see next a 2xAA flashlight, where the batteries are placed in parallel (so can be used with one battery like Acebeam UC15), with a constant current driver, as thin as possible. Then the head can be one or two LEDs, with various combinations of emitters and optics.
But efficiency can only go so far because light is just another form of heat. If there was an extremely heat resistant led then it could be thermally isolated from the host so it doesn’t burn your hand (or pocket)
Okay so heat and light are marginally different but they are both forms of energy. I get what you’re saying 100% efficiency = electromagnet wavelength being sent in one direction so the emitter itself doesn’t absorb any energy and get hot. Still sounds good to me
The last item varbos mentioned may seem funny at first, but we are implementing a more human decision approach and “feelings” into our daily innovations. Think about some answers Siri gives you or how the latest robots work.
And therefore I am adding something to the list:
- A flashlight you can talk to. “Hey Olight, can you brighten up the room a bit?” “Hey FW3A_V2, can you shine more over here where I am working?”
Im ashamed to say that up until the flashlights can feel pain and become jealous and questioned the synthetic diamond part, I believed everything was real. You can tell Im no expert in flashlights.
The Acebeam EC65 is a quad 21700, though I don’t think it has ramping (I haven’t look. It does have usb charging with (not to spec) USB-C connector.
Also a D4Sv2 could be made with the normal Carclo quad optics which have a smaller diameter, and it would probably get updated with all the D4v2 stuff too. But I though a lot of owners preferred that different optic.
Last one is a bit tougher, boost drivers cost a little more in both money and size, and the 70.2 is somewhat expensive as far as our common LEDs go. (it’s certainly no CFT-90 though hahaha)