Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

News Approved

Very good read indeed. If my memory serves me correct, we had the same innovation for DUI where the car won't start. But this is a good lead from a teenager.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

Thank you sir for approving

Its a really good innovation and if the manufacturers start applying this technology then I'm sure everyone with a bike has to wear a helmet compulsorily. Lets hope this become a reality.


Cheers

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

There are still people who laugh at me just because I always wear one even for grocery shop trip.
This tech will force them to wear one.
Number of educated bikers in India is very less more often I see helmets which are not strapped on may be the rider would have forgotten it in such case we need a beeper to remind us.

Sent from my A500s using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

I salute the kid for this initiative. Commendable effort!
Though not fool proof as strapless/unstrapped helmets would pass through, but something is better than nothing.

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

A commendable objective by the youngster but to be frank this is going nowhere. This kind of electronic interlock is not only unreliable but outright dangerous. What we really need is better riding etiquette and on road safety awareness which costs no money.

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

very nice initiative, really good.

although there are numerous difficulties in actually implementing it.

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

I remember reading about this 'Innovation' sometime last year on a non-biking forum. It's a shame that it is showcased here so late.

On topic, I think it's not only bike manufacturers, but also Indian helmet manufacturers like Vega, Studds or Steelbird should be approached with this idea so that they can design a system which can be cleanly integrated into their helmet designs and be retrofitted to older bikes.

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

Only the rider has this responsibility - if the rider is not responsible enough, no amount of innovations will help any. If someone wants to break their heads, they will find ways around any device.
You only need to see the hundreds of people who buy that thin plastic cap to avoid the police gaze. They wear it at the traffic stop and then take it off in a smooth movement when past the cop.
Then, there are the ones who buy a helmet and wear it without straps. That is as good as no helmet at all.

Speaking of the original news, people don't even want to pay 700-1000 rupees for a Studds ISI marked helmet. Not sure they would pay Rs 300 over the helmet price for (what to them is) a fancy device. Not talking about responsible bikers here, who ensure they wear a helmet first thing while riding, they will go to some expense to procure a decent enough helmet for their daily needs.
[MENTION=49917]bbsrailfan[/MENTION] - I've spoken to a few dealers here, sales are so sluggish even in the low end market, that any additional expense would entail in the customer making no purchase at all . I doubt the manufacturers would take the risk of losing customers. That is why these ideas don't take off. Greed, and thick skulls.

I'm not bashing the innovation (I'm not sure how the heat sensor would work in the summers though, curious about that) . Also there is no mention of failsafes etc, what about double D ring helmets, what about the click lock types, what happens if the sensor is triggered while in traffic, or on the highway. Companies pour a lot of money into research to find out safety levels and testing and only then is a product validated for the market. I understand we're being idealistic and proud that a youngster has developed this, but how practical it is remains to be seen.

We can only educate and inform at our end, and hope some good sense catches on.

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

For a 15 Year old Teenager,
I think as a 16 year Old
I just Ignore all the details of the heat sensor,strap switch..etc
But I really appreciate his efforts to make this helmet.
And Spreading awareness of 2 Wheeler Safety.

Kudos Amey Nerkar

And Yes what we want is a safe culture which is really hard to Implement.

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

Screw those people, man. From what I have observed, more than half the people wear helmets like a hat (without strapping them). Wear helmets that is basically just a skinny plastic shell. Most of these people don't wear helmet for safety. They do it just to avoid traffic fines.

Coming to the main topic. I like it. I have had a couple of instances where I had forgotten to strap my helmet (was talking just before taking off) and I realized it only after riding a couple of kilometers.

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

Lol, the opposite happened to me couple of times. I have modified my LS2 helmet with an inbuilt headset that connects to my phone - helps a lot in taking calls and music is awesome. I usually listen to music on my way back from office. Sometimes I get so lost with the music that I get off the bike and reach my house on the 2nd floor without realizing that I have the helmet on!!!!!

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

Firstly, I want to appreciate this boy for actually thinking of doing something great for the country. I have respect for this guy's noble intentions. Let's get that straight, because truth is what I would type further....


I believe its not an invention. Technology is not new here. Every year, 100's of Indian engineering students (doing B Tech, M Tech, etc.) create stuff that goes only for their project's internal marks, and nothing else. And, any good engineer can create a proximity system that tells whether a helmet is in place or not.

In fact, Sorry to say, let me suggest a better system:- Forget Wireless signals and go Infra red signals.
Have a particular infrared signal come out from the helmet's chin area. But, not any IR signal, a particular encrypted signal which only ISI manufacturers will be able to know and build. This signal should be recognisable by the bike's console after every 1 minute or so, and this should keep ignition running. The benefits are as below:-->

1. The helmet battery will last tremendously long, as IR doesn't consume as much battery as wireless signals do. Plus, there can be a solar panel for the same, on the helmet itself, like cheap calculators, making it a battery independent system.

2. There will be no wireless signal setup, so no fear of radiations like, in mobile phone or so. This is debatable though.

3. The Wireless system can be broken from helmet and somewhere kept with the bike. This way, the system can be easily hacked along with the sensors which can be short circuited or worked around.
Whereas in case of my idea of IR, the helmet has to be kept in front of the console ONLY, and nowhere else. So, hacking would be tougher as the console will have to be relocated/ modified for the same.

4. Even cheaper to build. This guy's claiming Rs. 200-300 for wireless setup??
An InfraRed signal emitter (for a particular signal) can cost anywhere between Rs. 10-40, alongwith an electronic "skin resistance" detector. ISI helmet manufacturers can use it with their helmets with hardly any appreciable increase in costs.


After all, to hack this system, no one would wear an IR transmitter on their chin or face, right?? Sticking it on console would make it out of focus (I think this is not accurate, but will have to work). That way, actually people will wear helmets. Like I said: Technology is already there. This innovation is just an implementation.


SECONDLY, The MAIN point is whether this guy actually gets approval from government for this noble initiative or not. And that's where this guy might not succeed, if I talk from my (little) experience of life in India.

You think that the 2 Wheeler manufacturers will take it seriously?? They won't accept this because if they accept it alone, their sales will go down.
Why? Because, such a system will discourage the common man from purchasing such a bike. The common man will still go into another showroom rather than get such a bike.

There's a way though. All manufacturers should follow it together, so that common man isn't left with a helmetless bike choice.
And if you want all manufacturers to follow such a rule, then approaching the government is the only way to do so. The Industry's association might be another way to get this done together.


VESTED INTERESTS is the word every innovator must keep in mind. Can you make something to keep everyone involved happy? If yes, then only go ahead. Sorry for crashing dreams, but posting the cold truth is needed. This guy has won only 1/4th the battle so far, if he's created the system. Now, he has to convince the government or ARAI to make anything out of it, despite APJ sir's recommendations...


OT: On a personal note, typing this post reminded me of a time when I was in 9th class (ICSE board) and was forced by Parents to take Commerce, when I wanted to take Science so desperately, due to my creative mind and aptitude for science. And years later, I still can't stop imagining scientific stuff in my mind.
Its sad that, while a school makes you believe that the order of superiority of students is 1. Science, 2. Commerce & then 3. Arts, its actually inverse in real life..
Yes, by Arts I mean the government. and yes, they pull the strings to such ventures.

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

I have a another idea, what if the auto companies are mandated to give a complementary gift of Helmet with every bike purchase then it might help improve this situation a little bit. Actually the helmet manufacturers are also to blame, they have hardly innovated on the centuries old design, why can't they make one which suits Indian climate and still be safe to wear?

Re: Teenager's Innovation to minimise two-wheeler injuries

I don't think that's going to work. You know when one of my friend bought his 220 the dealer gave a helmet for free with the bike, but i have hardly seen him wearing that. So not the auto companies but some of the dealers do give a helmet with a bike purchase, but it's always a person's own decision whether to wear it or not.

Who says the helmet designs have not evolved???
Many manufacturers are bringing in helmets with catchy designs and graphics. Its not the same old fashioned black color helmets. And by designs if you meant those predator type helmets then I don't know what to say.
What do you mean by a helmet which suits the Indian climate I didn't get your point.



Cheers