Every aspect of the Antares, a new nine-inch (229mm) driving lamp kit launched by HELLA, is engineered and designed for Australia.
An initiative embarked upon by global automotive supplier, HELLA, for the local Australian market, Antares takes careful consideration of the unique driving conditions faced by Australian road users, and includes, importantly, heavy vehicle drivers.
Reflecting the brilliance of its namesake, Antares – one of the brightest stars in the night sky – these driving lights are designed to keep drivers safe and guided whether on rural and outback highways, winding coastal roads or intricate suburban streets.
Plus, these lights boast a sleek and stylish appearance for that added touch of sophistication. At nighttime or in darker conditions, when the reaction times of the driver are often further reduced, having light that extends visibility both in distance and width is a must have.
The Antares is designed with these needs in mind, incorporating unique lighting features such ‘wide beam cluster LEDs’ and cutouts on the periphery of the light housing, designed to amplify the light thrown even further.
“This is a way for us to put a lot of power out to the sides to get that bigger picture,” says Gregory Foot, HELLA Australia Product Manager.
“That sort of technology is important because we have a specific requirement for it, and not just for spotting road hazards, but also for truck drivers as well.”
Any impact can result in a truck being run off the road with major damages to the vehicle and also the valuable products it is carrying so naturally the more visibility for a driver the better.
“These lights extend up to 80-metres in width out past 150-metres distance, maintaining a width of 45-metres even at 700-metre distance, which is really impressive. And the main beam can give over 800-metres in forward distance” Gregory explains.
“Not only is this great for overall visibility but it significantly reduces eye strain and fatigue that comes with driving in low light conditions.”
Depending on the application, truck drivers are not always on straight flat pieces of road. Having a driving light that works like a traditional spot light but also with the volume of light should prove highly effective in forestry applications where steep inclines and low visibility are par for the course.
Indeed, drivers don’t necessarily need to be in a regional location to reap the safety benefits. Industrial estates can be poorly lit after dark whereby other vehicles can appear, with minimal notice, in side streets.
“For truck drivers, it’s about spotting your turn off, illuminating those dark cul-de-sacs and side streets, all the common potential blind spots a driver might encounter at night,” says Gregory.
“When you’re turning in, you want to know what to expect. The same applies to coastal roads, mountainous roads, those environments where having light concentrated in front of you is sometimes less useful.”
In addition, these driving lights play an important role in daylight conditions as well. Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are now considered a major safety component not just in automotive technology but for applications involving heavy vehicles.
As one of the early pioneers of the technology, HELLA understands the many benefits DRLs provide road users including the crucial role they play in mitigating impacts from oncoming vehicles.
Especially in regional areas where overtaking is often necessary and frequent on single lane roads night or day.
“Even on straight road where you think it’s clear and you pull out and someone comes out of the shadows of a high bank of trees or after being hidden behind a heat haze,” says Gregory.
“Having a lamp that is playing a safety role, not just at high beam, but also a working DRL adds an additional layer of safety.”
What’s more, the Antares Position (PO) light represents a major advancement in technology. There’s actually over 50 LEDs in each lamp, many of which provides the glow intensity for backlighting.
These can be wired up in line with existing position lights or low beam (check local traffic regulations and ADR 13/00) so that when the lights are activated, they automatically come on and increase the visibility of the vehicle because of the bigger surface area that has been created.
Position lights, after all, are about giving the operator more visibility according to Gregory.
“It’s a bit like a lighthouse. It’s not really about projecting light but there to be seen,” he says.
“It doesn’t hurt that these POs enhance the curb appeal quite a lot. Everything’s been designed to bend and scatter the light.”
There’s also little domes on the umbrella reflector, which changes the way the light itself looks giving it a distinct glowing presence.
“It’s drawing on our senses to alert other motorists that you are there,” adds Gregory. ”You know, a truck with the Antares looks really gorgeous when they’re running. The shape and style of the light gives it that sense of opulence — it’s functional, visually appealing and ADR compliant as well.”
The Antares can be fitted to any truck that has a standardised spot for nine-inch (229mm) lamps. It combines three separate beam technologies into one — a combined beam, a broad beam, and a focused beam.
In the interests of making Antares plug in and play, HELLA added a two-position switch to flick between DRL and position light that works on manual operation.
It’s completely separate to the main switch according to Gregory. So with their expert design and powerful performance, these sleek lights, according to Gregory, don’t just turn heads — they redefine safety on the road.
“The Antares LED driving lamps from HELLA are where innovation and style meets safety,” he says.
