California-based engineer Faizal Ali was riding his motorcycle on a San Diego freeway one day and downshifted in order to slow for an exit. Because he didn’t actually apply the brakes, however, his brake light didn’t come on. As a result, the following car almost ran into him. That experience prompted him to partner with Jesse Szynal and designer Fausin Mdisa to create Vololights – it’s a rear lighting system that activates no matter what method the rider is using to decelerate.
Vololights is integrated into a user-installed rear license plate frame. Contained within that frame are eight red LEDs, a microprocessor, and a 3-axis accelerometer. A white LED also provides continuous illumination of the license plate.
After being calibrated by the user upon its initial installation, Vololights will be able to detect any noteworthy decrease in speed, whether it’s caused by downshifting, engine braking, or simply application of the brake levers.
If the rate of deceleration indicates a normal braking scenario, the Vololights’ two rows of four red LEDs will flash alternately at a rate of two times per second – this just alerts drivers to the fact that the motorcycle is slowing. If the bike decelerates very quickly, however, the lights will flash five times a second, letting drivers know that they have to react fast in order to avoid an accident.
An algorithm running in the microprocessor is designed to filter out false alarms, such as when the rider is slowing the bike while descending steep hills.
The designers are now raising production funds for Vololights, on Kickstarter. A pledge of US$79 will get you a system, when and if they’re ready to go. More information is available in the pitch video below.
Sources: Vololights, Kickstarter
Before the word got out, fellow racers thought he was having brake trouble and thus sat back waiting for Hall's car to leave the track.
There is nothing more annoying then seeing brake lights going on/off in front of you every 2 minutes for no good reason, it would be ten times worse with this system!
Looks like Faisal Ali doesn't know this.
For all of us that like to downshift please follow this practice even if you are downshifting in a car. Tap your brake lightly and briefly, then downshift.
Faizal here, to Alex comments, we definitely considered your concern. We set the trigger points at two points. We selected the trigger points so that it does not come too often that it desensitizes other drivers. We also turn off immediately when it sense acceleration, e.g. when you slow down to take a turn and and accelerates. The LEDs are selected with a narrower angle so that only the driver behind you sees it but less distracting to the adjacent lane driver. To Sidmehta comments, we're simply automating what you and I both agree something all drivers should do.
Thanks for the feedback guys!