High tech helmet from a Sri-Lanka Inventor
Posted by Ben Baker on Dec 10th 2016
| A Sri Lanka inventor has come out with a device that mounts to the back of a motorcycle helmet to make riding a bike safer. |
| The iHelmet by Ganindu Nanayakkara is not actually a helmet, but it is sold in combination with a helmet. For US riders, buying this combo might not be a good idea since helmets have to be Department of Transportation approved in some states. The device and the controller are sold separately. |
| WHAT IS IT? |
| The iHelmet is a Bluetooth device that attaches to the back of a helmet. It communicates with a smartphone via Bluetooth. |
| If you have a Bluetooth communicator in your helmet or an earpiece, you can get the information. Otherwise, you’ll have to stop and take out your smartphone to get the information. Some of the info the iHelmet provides is only useful while you are moving. |
| Several of the options only work with the integral iHelmet. |
| It provides a rider with: |
| Blind spot assistance |
| Scanners check behind the rider on each side. If someone is coming up, the rider gets an alert. The clearance distance adjusts automatically for speed. This works with all helmets. |
| Smart tail lights |
| If someone is trying to ride up your pipes, the device flashes a red light to make them back off a bit. The 2-second interval is the standard distance. This works only in the integral iHelmet. |
| High speed alerts |
| In case you don’t pay attention to the speedometer and posting MPH signs, a GPS unit keeps track of it. If you are rolling too fast, you’ll get an alert. This works with all helmets. |
| Directions to parking spaces |
| Without more reviews on this one to know for sure, this app doesn’t seem to be of much help. It can use GPS to mark out a parking lot, but finding an empty spot is another matter entirely. You could be in a parking lot, see and empty space a row or two over, but by the time you get there, it’s full. This sounds like an adaption for the Asian market. This works with all helmets. |
| Air quality |
| This is not really an issue except in a few major cities in the US. This is more aimed at the Asian market where air quality is a major concern. This works with all helmets. |
| An emergency distress call |
| If you go down, the iHelmet puts out an emergency call to whoever you list as an emergency contact. Cages have had this for some time now. The OnStar system from GM is one such device. This works with all helmets |
| A forward facing light and in-helmet light indicators. |
| These only work with the integral device. |
| Mr. Nanayakkara’s website has a video that discusses some of the reasons he created the iHelmet, mainly to help riders avoid wrecks. He narrates the video and his accent is a bit thick. He was in the running for a Verizon technology grant, so he may be looking for investors to help get the product to market. |
| Whether his gets off the ground or not, this kind of rider assistance is now a reality and some company will be able to bring it to market successfully. |