Hey r/landscaping,
I've always felt that traditional path lighting can be a bit heavy-handed. You either have static lights that are on all night, or harsh motion-activated floodlights that ruin the nighttime ambiance and your night vision.
So, I developed this system as a more organic and interactive alternative.
How it works:
It uses a small, hidden radar sensor to track your movement and predict your path. It then controls a low-profile LED strip (installed along a garden edge, wall, or path border) to create a "personal bubble" of light that moves with you.
The benefits for landscaping are:
Preserves the Night Sky: It only lights up a small area, minimizing light pollution and allowing you to enjoy the natural darkness of your yard.
Subtle & Elegant: It's a "wow factor" that feels integrated into the landscape, rather than just being a utility light.
Doesn't Disturb Wildlife (or Neighbors): The gentle, localized light is far less intrusive than a bright, area-wide floodlight.
The whole system is fully waterproof and designed for outdoor use.
I've launched it on Kickstarter for those who are interested in a ready-to-install kit. I thought this community, in particular, would appreciate this different approach to outdoor lighting.
➡️ Kickstarter Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/diy-yari/lighttrack-vision-smart-lighting-that-moves-with-you
Happy to answer any questions!
by Gorden-FreeMan
9 Comments
I totally love it, but I’d like the light to lead me, not follow me, I don’t wanna be blinded to the spot I’m already stepping on, but couldn’t see before because it was dark
Love the idea, if possible I’d suggest fading the edges and gradually transitioning as it moves so it feels more natural and less sharp in movement.
Another idea is to have a gradual fade as user walks kinda appearing like the light has a half life. This way once the person leaves the walkway the light slowly dims off rather than shutting off so abruptly.
Will it trigger for raccoons or opossums?
I feel like the light needs to get a bit more ahead of the walker. If I were the walker, I would feel very uncertain approaching the house for the first time not quite sure where I’m supposed to walk if it’s dark out.
That’s actually really cool!
Seems creepy.
Kind of cool but wouldn’t work for me. I’m in snow 6 months of the year.
I think you’re on the right path
It’d be a cool optional mode for landscape lighting – ie, you want all the lights off for a firepit-under-the-stars evening but still want guests to be able to go to the bathroom – but it ignores the aesthetic reasons for landscape lighting. Landscape lighting isn’t JUST for wayfinding/navigation. It highlights the home and landscape and visually expands the property after dusk.