Motorcycle helmet innovator Reevu has come up with what it claims is the world's first commercially available intelligent helmet with a built-in heads-up display, or HUD. While that's a bit misleading – it won't actually be available for another 18-24 months – a HUD for bikers is clearly an exciting prospect, and Reevu with its experience in building in rear-vision capabilities is probably in an excellent position to get it to market.
Details are scant on the proposed HUD system, but here's what we can discern. The HUD information will be displayed as an overlay on the Reevu helmet's rear vision system, not on the main visor. That means you'll still have to flick your eyes up to read it, but it's still better than moving your whole head down to read your speedo as you have to on some motorcycles.
It seems Reevu plans to connect the HUD to the motorcycle's ECU or diagnostics system, as the images display information like engine RPM and fuel consumption data. Reevu has stated it also intends to incorporate things like indicator signals and potentially other "idiot lights." Presumably, then, you'll need an external Bluetooth dongle to attach somewhere on your bike.
Reevu suggests the first version of the Intelligent HUD helmet will be racetrack-focused, with things like lap and split timers installed. Again, some kind of external control like a thumb switch will be needed to trigger lap changes.
This seems like an odd decision. I'd wager the most useful stuff you could put on a motorcycle helmet HUD would be a digital speedo and GPS turn-by-turn navigation prompts. And if Reevu was to build an Android app and an iOS app, it could cover the vast majority of the market without requiring anyone to plug anything into their bike.
Either way, it's certainly a tantalizing proposition and it's hard to imagine HUD displays not being a significant part of motorcycling in 10-20 years' time. Perhaps motorcycle manufacturers will start designing their software systems with this kind of thing in mind.
Reevu is "looking at a target price of UK£700 Sterling" (US$1076) for the intelligent helmet.
I am reminded somewhat of fighter pilots resisting closed cockpits, wanting access to as much visual information to their surroundings as possible. And yes, mounting my bike and taking off into the ocean of cars, trucks, and bad drivers, I felt at times like said fighter pilot.
PS: ( The Blue-hair had 3 motorcycle stamped black silhouettes on her old Buick. )
That being said, the heads up display would be very convenient for those times when I'm not in traffic and could use at leisure.
To be charitable i understand that they wish to use their UK factory for manufacturing and cannot support global sales. My motorcycle riding days are behind me now but even if they were not i would not buy a reevu product due to what i perceive as anti US discrimination. Further i had contacted congress that overseas patents should not necessarily be honored if they would not put their product on the US market or License it to another company to do so.
People, the helmet should have REARVIEW , not all that colorful crap. The bike rider is distracted enough already. Being able to see all around the driver would help. Cram all the maps and other stuff. Wake up, corporations. Get us a truly useful electric helmet!