LiveMap: Motorbike helmet with navigation

Unique hi-tech motorbike helmet with built-in navigation system and voice controlled interface.

The challenge

Motorcyclists still need an effective navigation tool except the usual paper maps or touch-screen navigators. Using maps requires frequent stops, navigators distract the biker’s attention and are not safe to be operated on the go.

There is a device that would perfectly meet the bikers’ requirements but up to the present day only fighter pilots could enjoy its advantages. Yes, we mean helmet-mounted displays.

The solutаion

We worked a lot and now have a solution:

Helmet1

augmented reality for easy and user-friendly navigation
clearly visible collimated image i.e. it is always in focus, just like that in scope sights
full-color, translucent picture is projected right on the visor like in a F-35 fighter helmet, it's safe, provides unobstructed view, doesn't distract attention and eliminates the need for a separate display
supposed size of the system fits a motorcycle helmet - our helmet is going to be just a bit bigger than usual
two 3000 mAh batteries for a long operation time
microphone for voice control that keeps both hands free for driving
two earphones
light sensor for adjusting the image brightness according to external light conditions
G-sensor, gyroscope, digital compass for head movement tracking (the picture changes according to the view direction)

Despite sophisticated modern technologies being at the heart of product it is going to be easy to use. In fact, its future owners are going to touch the futuristic technology formerly seen only in sci-fi movies.

User interface

Helmet2

The user interface is going to be minimalistic and simple. The list of of voice commands will be short, all commands natural and understandable by context. For the case the user is in trouble formulating a suitable command the help option is just a command ("Help!") away.

Overview map can be viewed anytime your speed is near zero (showing map at high speed is prohibited due to safety reasons).

POI search and display is not forgotten either.

Current state

The project got support of Moscow Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Enterprise; State Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in Science and Technology of Russian Federation; Skolkovo Foundation.Currently with their financial support we made prototypes for:

outer shell
electronic board
optics
software

Why crowd funding?

Our project origins from Russia. Russian venture funds are not disposed to invest into hardware startups. They prefer to back up clones of successful services like Groupon, Airnb, Zappos, Yelp, Booking, etc. They are not interested in producing hardware either. Thus we got some grants from the Government, but this seed capital is not unlimited, and is intended for making prototypes. We, like Paul Graham, believe that the time of hardware startups is coming and they can begin a new era by crowd funding, i.e. fundraising and pre-selling.

Stripe

How we will use raised funds

Money will be payed for making pressmolds for the helmet capsule. It's a rather expensive tooling and is vitally important for the whole project.

Please learn more about injection molding.

Our goals

We went a long and hard way. Our next, the most important and the most challenging step is to put all parts together and to start industrial production: