Helmet with stop and turn signals built in on Kickstarter

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Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • August 12, 2015 at 1:25 am #1035665
    mstone
    Participant

    I’ve never really felt like signalling was the problem I had on the road.

    August 12, 2015 at 1:45 am #1035666
    hozn
    Participant

    I briefly considered ordering one when they were first announced. But I also don’t really need turn signals. The automatic brake lights are frickin’ cool, though.

    August 12, 2015 at 2:25 am #1035667
    peterw_diy
    Participant

    I would love to have effective turn signals. And I kinda miss my automatic brake light (triggered by a compression switch on the rear brake cable). But before I even get to the fact that “water resistant” is inadequate, there’s the problem that people don’t expect brake and turn signals on bicycles. Certainly not on helmets — maybe if they were rack mounted with the turn signal lamps on stalks like an old touring motorcycle. But not that design.

    Even though it brings back pleasant memories of the original Battlestar Galactica series’ pilot helmets…

    August 12, 2015 at 2:12 pm #1035679
    bobco85
    Participant

    For the turn signals, I think that glove lights would be better. While I have seen recent technologies for turn signals on gloves, I think that the light should be activated automatically when a cyclist moves their hand more than a foot away from their handlebars.

    I like the automatic brake lights but think this idea could be taken farther. I would like some sort of rear light system similar to (I’m not 100% that this is a real technology or not, but I heard of its usage) when buses are stopped at a red light and a car is approaching too fast, a sensor on the bus causes the brake lights to flash brighter than normal to alert the driver to stop.

    A bicycle would be equipped with a similar sensor that does the following:

    • senses if an object (vehicle) is approaching from the rear (same lane and/or one lane on each side to help with curves and lane-changing drivers)
    • if the vehicle is approaching at 10 mph or faster than the cyclist’s speed and is within 100 feet of the cyclist, the sensor activates special lights that display for 10 seconds
    • the special lights flash/shine brighter than the cyclist’s normal lights to better alert the driver to the cyclist’s presence
    • note: the speed, distance, and time duration of said device are just for example
    August 12, 2015 at 2:23 pm #1035681
    Crickey7
    Participant

    I like the idea of helmet lights that brighten upon braking. The more a rider can create a distance between two sets of lights on them, the better approaching drivers can estimate distance. I agree the turn function is likely largely wasted, as I am unconvinced drivers will notice it. Something on the glove or a reflective sleeve is better. As an aside, I saw a rider indicate a right turn using the hand signals the drivers ed classes teach, with the left arm bent. It looks so wrong.

    August 12, 2015 at 2:50 pm #1035686
    trailrunner
    Participant

    @bobco85 121968 wrote:

    I like the automatic brake lights but think this idea could be taken farther. I would like some sort of rear light system similar to (I’m not 100% that this is a real technology or not, but I heard of its usage) when buses are stopped at a red light and a car is approaching too fast, a sensor on the bus causes the brake lights to flash brighter than normal to alert the driver to stop.

    A bicycle would be equipped with a similar sensor that does the following:

    • senses if an object (vehicle) is approaching from the rear (same lane and/or one lane on each side to help with curves and lane-changing drivers)
    • if the vehicle is approaching at 10 mph or faster than the cyclist’s speed and is within 100 feet of the cyclist, the sensor activates special lights that display for 10 seconds
    • the special lights flash/shine brighter than the cyclist’s normal lights to better alert the driver to the cyclist’s presence
    • note: the speed, distance, and time duration of said device are just for example

    This is getting close to what you want:

    http://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/cycling/varia-smart-bike-lights/prod506138.html

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lCQN8DaelY

    August 12, 2015 at 2:58 pm #1035688
    Powerful Pete
    Participant

    Ok, but wouldn’t the Garmin thingie in your youtube link just go crazy riding in traffic in DC? I could see the utility in the boonies on a less than busy road, though…

    August 12, 2015 at 3:44 pm #1035694
    bobco85
    Participant

    Thanks, trailrunner, for the link! I did not know there was such a device for cyclists, and there’s plenty more that can be done with the technology.

    @Powerful Pete 121977 wrote:

    Ok, but wouldn’t the Garmin thingie in your youtube link just go crazy riding in traffic in DC? I could see the utility in the boonies on a less than busy road, though…

    I think it is not suitable for rush hour, but I would definitely use it when riding at night on streets that are less busy.

    August 12, 2015 at 6:18 pm #1035711
    Emm
    Participant

    When this came out my fiance ordered a pair of them for us. I guess I’ll let everyone know how they work when they arrive next year! I’m mostly concerned about weight–I just hope they aren’t super heavy helmets.

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