Intelligent Illumination? Headlamp 'Self-Adjusts' its Beam

Touted to have a first of its kind self-adjusting beam, the to-be-released NAO headlamp from Petzl could be a game changer in the world of head-mounted illumination products. Unveiled today at the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Utah, the NAO has integrated light sensors mounted near its LEDs on front. It is said to analyze ambient light and then “instantly and automatically” adjust its light-beam output to best suit the venue outdoors.

We have little information now on the headlamp. Petzl released only a paragraph to the press. But we assume the “self-adjusting” feature means the light will tune up and down depending on what you’re looking at. If a hiker is gazing ahead down a trail to see far, the headlamp will sense that and adjust long. Look down at your shoes (or a map in hand) and the smart Petzl headlamp will instantly reduce output to save power and not blast your eyes.

The NAO appears to be lightweight and made for a range of outdoor activities. It has two high-power LEDs and a rechargeable battery pack built-in. No word on price, weight, max beam output, or release date.

Stay tuned for more insight on this “smart” new headlamp product. GearJunkie is invited to an exclusive test of the NAO this Friday evening (tomorrow) in the Wasatch Mountains. We’ll put skis on and slide into the forest, a tiny Petzl intelligently (we hope!) adjusting and lighting the path in real-time as we glide through the night.

—See GearJunkie’s coverage of new products from the Outdoor Retailer show on our “Gear for 2012” and “Gearpocalypse” articles.