Saving lives one helmet at a time
Abstract
Biking is a prevalent commuting method and a fun way to exercise. There are 1 billion people cyclists worldwide. However, biking on the road is very dangerous. Bikers often face hazards such as sudden lane changes, blind spots, and limited visibility at night. 41000 cyclists are killed globally each year. Our goal is to increase communication between bikes and cars. Cars have communication methods, such as turn signals, brake lights, and hazard lights, but cyclists still need to. To achieve this goal, we decided to make a helmet that displays turn signals and informs users of nearby objects.
Problem Statement
To mitigate the lack of communication between bikes and cars, this project aims to create a helmet that lights up LED strips on the left or right based on how the user turns. It also uses ultrasonic sensors and haptic feedback (vibration) to inform users of nearby objects.
Design Alternatives and Rankings
#1 Turning Flag Signals
A physical flag mounted on the back of the bike that would turn to the side, the biker signaled. The problem with this idea is that not everyone would understand the purpose of the flag, and there’s no way for everyone to mount the flag on the bike quickly.
#2 Vest w/ Arrows Showing Turns
Since the arrows are on a vest or shirt, it depends on the biker maintaining good posture so the shirt has good visibility.
#3 Bike-mounted Rear-View Camera
A camera mounted on the bike’s rear could display real-time footage on a handlebar-mounted screen. While this helps with visibility, it requires the biker to monitor the screen, which can be distracting constantly.
#4 Audible Turn Signals
An audio system on the bike that announces turn signals. This could be confusing for drivers because it would be hard to hear the audio system from inside the car
Turn signal helmet & Surrounding sensor
Our product incorporates two key devices. The helmet features an LED light strip that indicates turn signals, which are controlled via Bluetooth modules connected to buttons on the bicycle handlebar. Both buttons are located on the left handlebar; pressing a button activates the corresponding LED signal, which continues to blink until pressed again to cancel.
Our advanced sensor, mounted beneath the bicycle seat, alerts riders to potential surrounding hazards. This detachable design ensures compatibility for all users. When objects are detected within a 70 cm proximity, the ultrasonic sensor transmits signals to the helmet’s vibration device, notifying the rider of nearby obstacles. These vibration alerts are directional, providing precise warnings.
Design Criteria & Objectives
- The total weight of the helmet with electronics added is no more than 1.5 pound.
- During the day and at night, turn signals are visible from 45 feet away.
- We should survive our bike test trials - ride for 30 minutes continuously without anything falling off.
- Ultrasonic sensors should be able to sense and alert from back, left, and front directions whenever an item is within 70 cm.
Final Design: Signal Lights
Helmet-mounted bike lights are equipped with LED turn signal indicators controlled by buttons on the handlebars, ensuring clear visibility for other road users when the cyclist is turning. This system enhances safety by making the cyclist’s intentions more noticeable, especially in low-light conditions. Easy to use, these lights significantly improve overall cycling safety.
Demo of the Signal Light Circuitry
Final Design: Object Sensor
This attachable ultrasonic sensor system is designed to be mounted on the back of the bike, where it continuously monitors for approaching vehicles. When a car is detected, it sends a vibration signal to the helmet, indicating the direction from which the vehicle is coming. This real-time alert system helps cyclists stay aware of their surroundings, reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing their safety on the road.
Our Product
Testing Results
Ultrasonic sensor
We collected data from our ultrasonic sensors, each labeled as 1, 2, or 3, which can accurately measure the distance of nearby objects. Although their accuracy diminishes at greater distances, this is not a significant issue as they reliably detect objects within the crucial 70 cm range.
Putting the pieces together
Here is a time-lapse of the soldering process of our components
AI Usage
We used ChatGPT for various aspects of our project, such as debugging coding snippets and idea generation It was most helpful for debugging and providing quick solutions to coding issues. GPT is a powerful tool, and we benefited from the advanced features of the paid version, GPT-4 and GPT-4o.
Project Video
Future Work
Incorporating a brake light on the bicycle helps vehicles identify its speed. Given more time, we would integrate an accelerometer to detect the bike’s velocity and acceleration, enhancing the accuracy and responsiveness of the brake light display.
The emergency call system also functions as a crash detection mechanism. In the event of a crash, it automatically contacts emergency services (911) on behalf of the rider.
- Circuitry and Code for LED strip/button subsystem/Bluetooth Communication
- Website and Presentation
- Circuitry and Code for LED strip/button subsystem
- Website and Presentation
- Circuitry and Code for Ultrasonic Sensor/Buzzer subsystem
- CAD and Lasercutting
- Circuitry and Code for Ultrasonic Sensor/Buzzer Subsystem
- Project Video Editing
