Motorcycles

Reevu aims to be first to bring a motorcycle helmet HUD to market

View 2 Images
Reevu's proposed motorcycle helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD)
Reevu's proposed motorcycle helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD)
Reevu's proposed motorcycle helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD)

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.

Reevu's proposed motorcycle helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD)

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.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
21 comments
Rohan Barnard
I don't know how successful they will be. Russian company LiveMap already has a prototype and investors so I think that they will win the HUD helmet race. Plus theirs run on Android. And I think adding an external control for lap times would be unwise, why not let the helmet communicate with a lap timer/data logger?
Erik Guilfoyle
LiveMap is funded, but still in development and probably further off their release date then they realize (considering funding and start-ups on average). Reevu has a history with producing products like this... for people on the slopes. I'm in love with the idea of a HUD and I can't believe it's taking so long to come to market. A price tag of $1500 is far too much (LiveMap) and $1100 (Reevu) is pushing it. But for a fledgling product such as this I suppose that's how it's going to be.
Lewis M. Dickens III
Is there room for a light version for cyclers with a rear view option?
lwesson
How much of this information is vitally essential? In driving over 100,000 miles on motorcycles and living to talk about such, I am reminded that distractions can be fatal or brutally unforgiving. Thinking ahead, knowing what is around you ( quickly ), knowing the limitations of the road surface, understanding what your machine can and cannot do, helps. Surviving long enough to gain experience helps greatly. There is a defined curve for accidents of novice riders, vs, experienced ones. Even then, you can be at the mercy of a careless motorist. Most of my friends are dead that drove bikes. Maybe it was my pick of friends? ( A Blue-hair old lady nearly sent me to see God...)
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. )
Wayne the Drifter
The idea of the helmet HUD is exciting but troubling at the same time. Distraction from the primary purpose of operating a motor vehicle is the cause of most accidents. Whenever I through my leg over my bike I understand that I have become invisible to most motorists and spend a majority of my time keeping track of the traffic around me. Getting distracted is the last thing I want to do!
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.
Stephen Cranford
Why not just get GoogleGlass and be done with it! Not to mention with GLASS you can use it in other ways other then on your bike & it's the same price! OH, and it's out now! LOL This item is just to much, to late! Maybe if it becomes standard in helmets or a cheap add-on, if not it won't last!
Piet LF
The SportVue HUD was some years back a very interesting gaged .It was expensive and complicated to install but installed on your own helmed .Is this one better? We will see when it comes to marked.
Wayne the Drifter
I hope it's not distracting.
Charles Dansreau
Reevu has had a rear view motorcycle helmet available to most of the world for several years. They have never sold this in the US market that i am aware of. they have concentrated selling this in the UK and italy. They have avoided selling this in the US. This product used an optical light tube to reflect the rear vision on the upper part of the helmet vision area. I had considered this an important product to enhance driver safety.
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.
Dan Lewis
SORRY, but the idea, as it currently is, is stupid and lacking.
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!