Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

LED lights have been out for a while now, so I was just wondering where you think lighting technology will go next.

Personally, I would like to see more two level LED lightbars, as well as designs that offer more intersecton protection, since most LED bars these days are straight across.

On new LED bars, they don't utilize the top of the bar for anything. In time I'd like to see photovoltaic panels on the top of the lightbars, built in flat. Good PV panels are really expensive, but with new LED technology that will evolve to use less power, more affordable PVs could be used.

Then, the lightbar and depending on the quality of the PVs, all of the electronics could be powered by sunlight and a separate battery. Use less gas.
Idling has become grounds for removal of take-home privileges in my department, but my large school's small police agency still does it due to the necessity of lights for everyday traffic control.

Can you explain more about these panels, I've never heard of them before.

Photovoltaic panels are the same thing as solar panels. Someone I know is planning to start a company dealing with the use of solar power, so I know a bit about it.

Basically, the panels receive sunlight and convert the energy into electricity. Then through converters it could be converted to whichever voltage is necessary, like 12v DC.

They are a bit expensive still, even though they've existed since the '70's. But, in time, someone will invent a way to create them for a cheaper price.

There's a new cable channel on Brighthouse Networks called Planet Green. It's part of the Discovery network. My family has it and there are a few people in the country who are able to live comfortably with electricity without being connected to the power grid. That's because wind power and solar power is able to generate enough electricity to power an entire house. They can charge electric cars too instead of using gasoline.