So far, smart helmets are confined among independent makers. Start-up Brands such as Jarvish and Skully usually raise funds through crowd-funding. But now Shoei has just shown off their smart helmet at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Shoei’s IT-HT includes Bluetooth connectivity and a head-up-display (HUD). Real time riding data is displayed on the translucent HUD, allowing the rider to keep his eyes on the road at all times.
As with the features offered by other smart helmet makers, the rider can customize the data including speed, engine RPM, navigation, incoming call, and so forth.
There are also start-ups such as Hudway, Nuviz and Seemore who provide add-on HUD devices, but Shoei partnered with NS West to develop the technology. The Japanese company produces instrumentation and HUDs for Mazda.
The IT-HT is a demonstrator in the meantime and the Shoei headquarters did not announce when it will go into production. However, they will be the first among major helmet manufacturers to venture into smart helmets should they pursue that direction.
Could this be the impetus to all major helmet manufacturers, as well?
While traditional helmet companies stick to producing helmets in the tried and true sense in terms of design and features, that focus has given room for “independents” to produce helmets with features that are eschewed by the traditionalists. That statement doesn’t mean we’re insinuating that these new helmets are bad, instead, we meant that these helmets feature out-of-the-square thinking.
A Tokyo-based company called Borderless Inc. has just launched a Kickstarter campaign for its CrossHelmet X1 smart helmet. So, what are inside this Alien/spaceman-looking helmet? It features not only integrated Bluetooth connectivity, but also ambient sound control and a heads-up display (HUD) which provides a claimed 360-degree view.
The features may sound similar to the Skully AR-1 (now in the hands of new investors – click here to read more), but the CrossHelmet X1 has a few extra notable features.
The HUD isn’t a plug-in item, instead is integrates all the technologies of the helmet. The rearview camera offers a 170-degree view which is paired to the front faceshield to provide 30 degrees more peripheral vision for a 360-degree view. Additionally, the HUD presents information such as speed, compass direction, weather, time and navigation on the foldable bifocal lens.
The CrossHelmet X1’s smartphone app provides access to the helmet’s features. You can listen to music, make/receive phone calls, and Group Talk just like if you’ve attached a Bluetooth communication device.
Unique to the CrossHelmet X1 at this moment is the CrossSound Control – the patented noise control system. It’s designed to reduce or enhance environmental sounds, depending on the rider’s needs via the smartphone app. Its algorithm is claimed to filter out road, engine and windnoise, while allowing through critical sounds such as screeching brakes and emergency sirens. Although SENA had been developing their Momentum INC (Intelligent Noise-Control) Pro helmet, the CrossHelmet is the first to make it to production with the noise control technology.
That’s not all, the helmet’s “sidepod” has a capacitive sticker which doubles up as a touch panel. Specific gestures will activate certain functions, just like smartphone.
There are also LED lightstrips on the sidepods, functioning as position lights for safety.
All these technologies are processed by a 1.2 GHz Dual Core Cortex A9 processor, powered by a safe solid-state lithium-ceramic battery.
The CrossHelmet X1 has passed the ECE, DOT and JIS standards.
The world’s first “smart helmet’ has been officially launched in Malaysia. The Jarvish Smart Helmet is distributed by RT Ride Tech Motorsport, which is the sole distributor for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
The Jarvish Smart Helmet features a built in 2k 120 degree wide angle video recorder, voice activation command, ability to receive and to reject phone calls, and it is compatible with Apple Siri and Android’s Google Go. This feature allows riders to check on the weather, location of nearby petrol stations and location of food stalls, all through voice commands. This allows the rider to keep both hands on the handle bars.
The helmet even has its own applications, which needs to be downloaded to a smart phone. This app enables the rider to download a video to his phone via wifi, or to a computer via a USB cable. It is said that the application will soon be able to offer live streaming to the riders Facebook account.
The device is operated by battery which can last up to 5.5 hours with continuous recording. Jarvish says that the battery is made of a solid state lithium ceramic military grade material and is thus an anti-explosion battery, even under extreme conditions such as piercing, collision, rupture and such, the battery stays stable, and will not leak, smoke, or burn.
The smart helmet even has its own crash sensor, and will automatically save a video recording into a “black box” when the sensor detects an impact. The helmet supports SD memory card with up to 256GB memory, which roughly sums up to about 3 days of recording.
Future plans includes a crash sensor that will be able to call out a specific phone number during emergencies, and in Europe, the helmet will be able to link up to rescue units and also insurance companies.
Jarvish Smart Helmet Specification:
BMW Motorrad HUD system for bikes could potentially make riding easier and safer as demonstrated in a special video. (more…)
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