New Generation of Flexible Light Guides for Safer and More Efficient Technologies

Researchers from the Centre of Polymer Systems (CPS) at Tomas Bata University in Zlín, in cooperation with IQS Group a.s., are developing a new generation of flexible side-emitting light guides (TQ15000300). The project is supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR) through the SIGMA programme focused on applied research and innovation.

The main objective of the project, led by Ing. Josef Osička, Ph.D., is to develop light guides capable of not only efficiently transmitting light but also emitting it uniformly and in a controlled manner along their entire length. The project also aims to innovate the manufacturing process by integrating light guide production, shaping, and the creation of light-emitting features into a single continuous process.

The research combines the development of advanced polymer materials, optimization of extrusion technologies, and the design of specialized diffractive microstructures. These microstructures will enable precise control of the direction and intensity of emitted light while ensuring uniform light distribution along the entire light guide. Ing. Daniel Sanétrník, Ph.D. is also involved in the project, focusing on achieving the optimal balance between the material's optical and mechanical properties.

The newly developed light guides are expected to find applications in smart textiles, safety garments, the automotive industry, interior lighting, and signaling systems. They have the potential to significantly enhance the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, industrial workers, and emergency response personnel.

The project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2026. Its outcomes will include functional prototypes of flexible light guides and an innovative manufacturing technology enabling their industrial-scale production.