Heads up display for helmets

I'm an electrical engineering grad, and I'm a relatively new rider (been riding about three years). In my spare time, I put together a heads-up display for my own personal use. By chance, I took the helmet with me to a motorcycle show last month, and a few people I met said I ought to think about selling it.

I only have one, so I'm not actually selling it, but I thought I'd share it with the community to get some thoughts on it.





The eyepiece displays text in your field-of-view, so you can always keep your eyes on the road. It’ll display your speed, or basic GPS navigation, or both. The HUD pairs via Bluetooth to a smartphone. It looks like this from the inside of the helmet:



All of the pieces are adjustable and they fit inside any helmet, so you can keep wearing the helmet that you know and like.

It works during the day, at night, and in the rain. All weather, all conditions.

As you can see, there is no frontal aerodynamic impact, because all of the pieces are tucked inside the helmet:





It charges with a standard Android charging cable:



As far as safety is concerned, the eyepiece is made out of a ballistics-grade composite. I wouldn’t depend on it to stop an actual bullet, but it’ll definitely hold up in even the most serious impacts.

The pieces are stuck inside the helmet with the same adhesive GoPros use. Once placed, the pieces are damn near impossible to remove. You can try to yank them out, hard, and they won't budge.

The kit doesn’t permanently alter the helmet (i.e. no holes get drilled or anything like that). Removing the adhesive would take some elbow grease, but it’s possible, so it wouldn’t be like you’d permanently maim your helmet to use the HUD.

So, what do you guys think? Do you see yourself buying one of these, if it were available?

 

Interesting, like how it is to the side of your vision. Can it go either side?
The visor shown, does not look road legal to me, is that needed for it to work, i.e. would it work with a clear visor?

 

Nifty idea. I don't think I would be interested. The data presented is not something I would need on a heads up display. I'm pretty sure being placed in that location it would interfere with me placing my glasses on/off and maybe even while wearing. I'm also sure it would take a while for me to get used to the encroachment feeling, if ever. It also looks like it might flutter when I had my visor up at higher speeds, which I do some times. Good luck with it.

 

I probably have more "HUD hours" than anyone here. Which means I've got an opinion (sorry).

I fly about 850 hours a year in a HUD-equipped airplane (18 years so far with 12 more to go till I reach retirement).

When visibility and ceiling are low (down to 50 feet above the runway for a decision altitude and only 700 feet of forward visibility) I love the HUD. But for 99% of daily flying I swing the HUD out of my field of view. Using the normal instruments is just more comfortable.

 

I would have to try using a GPS on the bike first.
Have used it in the car, is handy there, sometimes.
I could see where your device could be useful.
But am not a likely buyer for a thing like that.

 

Interesting concept...

Personally, I like it in principle.

Would depend on what it would cost. And the geek in me would like it to be able to display more info. (Granted, difficult on bikes which lack an easy means of gathering on-the-fly info. from an OBDII port or similar).

Never say never...or so the saying goes.

If you "productionise" it, put up a post detailing price etc. and I'll definitely take a serious look.

Top marks for the thought and effort in putting it together!

 

Several years ago I donated a few bucks to Nuviz, through a gofund me site. They put alot of effort and money into getting their product off the ground, they even move to Europe to partner with another company.

Their unit is an add-on to your on helmet for $699.00, there is also an English company trying to sell an integrated helmet HUD.

Take a look: https://www.ridenuviz.com/products/nuviz-head-up-display

My hat is off to you making your own, but to make a viable product is very difficult and expensive.

 

Why is the Visor not road legal? It looks like a pair of sunglasses I had in the 80's!;-) and aviator glasses as well.

 

Looks awesome, man!
"Sadly" I'm located in Germany, so shipping, etc. would be not only somewhat costly but also impractical as it would take a few weeks to reach my destination.^^