The smart helmet design process

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The smart helmet design process

08/17/2021

Smart helmet

The process of designing a smart helmet that our industrial designers designed for Intelligent Cranium Helmets LLC (ICH),

was an extremely demanding challenge. The helmet itself consists of 200% more components than a regular motorcycle helmet, and our work was focused on the design and development of the product. The design itself gives the impression of luxurious elegance, while at the same time containing cutting-edge modern textures, shapes and technology.

Throughout the entire process, we used a wide range of knowledge in the field of industrial design and directed it into something innovative and exciting. The intelligent helmet provided a great opportunity to combine our interests and knowledge into something that could be very practical and safe, while satisfying all the aesthetic requirements of speed enthusiasts.

Why?

The reason why we at Kreatif Design took on the smart helmet project is simple: we create and believe in change. Modern technology is close to us and we like to combine it with modern industrial design. The smart motorcycle helmet, which has high-resolution 4K cameras built into the front and back and allows for 360° recording, definitely represents an exciting interplay between the technology of the future and the top aesthetic design provided by our industrial designers.

At the studio, we believe that we can offer something new and interesting at any time, which is why we constantly strive to be innovative and unique. We create products that exceed modern static, creative or technological limitations and strive to constantly push these boundaries. We design with what you will need tomorrow in mind, and that is how the smart motorcycle helmet project was born.

Safety Standard

It is clear that there is no point in wasting words on the importance of safety in the case of a motorcycle helmet. So, before starting the design, we had to carefully study all the standards (DOT, ECE 22.05 in Snell), which are absolutely necessary to obtain the certificate, without which the production and sale of motorcycle helmets is impossible. As a basis and example, we took the ‘Nexx X.G100’ helmet, which achieved a very good rating in Sharp’s tests of the aforementioned safety standards. Safety comes first when it comes to helmets.

Material Selection - Carbon Fiber

After reviewing all the safety standards, we started with the selection of the material for the frame/shell. Despite the complexity of the final product, the decision was quite simple and logical: carbon.

It’s simple. A product made of carbon fiber looks extremely elegant, and above all, carbon is extremely strong and rigid for its weight (it is a very light material). It is therefore not surprising that motorcycle helmet manufacturers have been using carbon fiber predominantly in the last decade, as it increases the aesthetic and functional value of the products. Carbon helmets are lighter and stronger, while offering excellent shock absorption.

Most helmet manufacturers use carbon fiber in combination with fiberglass, Kevlar, plastic, and other materials, which together with carbon form an extremely strong whole. Combining materials also allows manufacturers to get exactly what they are looking for, or what they think is the best, with different combinations. Even many “pure carbon” helmets that are sold today are actually made of a combination of different materials, since carbon fiber is already a composite material.

Products whose main material is carbon are made in such a way that the carbon fibers (which are like threads) are essentially intertwined with another base material. This gives us “strength on two planes.” Namely, a binder is established – a common thermoplastic resin (the material from which thermoplastic helmets are made), which gives the final product three-dimensional strength. Multiple layers together only increase this strength.

Carbon fiber is relatively expensive, so most helmet manufacturers only use it for the best ones. These helmets tend to receive more attention and higher quality side materials, so their overall performance is better, but the price is higher.

In short, carbon fiber is not only very aesthetic, but also strong and expensive. It allows manufacturers to create beautiful and extremely powerful, lightweight motorcycle helmets.

Advanced Technology

The so-called smart helmet allows us to constantly monitor what is happening behind us and thus see danger before it happens. In addition, the company ICH has also patented tehnology, that connects the helmet to your smartphone.

HARDWARE

The core hardware of the smart helmet is focused on safety. The iC-R line can offer you unparalleled safety features:

Two rear-view cameras that eliminate blind spots, i.e. areas that cannot be seen with a regular helmet. This increases the driver’s field of vision by at least 60°.
A 180-degree sensor that warns you of danger within five meters with a picture and sound (optional, can be turned off).
Extremely bright LED lights on the back of the helmet, making you almost impossible to miss in the dark or in poor visibility.
GPS tracker, which allows you to see where your helmet is in the event of theft or loss via the ‘Find my helmet’ application.
Self-dimming visor, which keeps your eyes in optimal light at all times.
Built-in speakers, which serve as a substitute for wireless headphones and eliminate the unpleasant feeling of a button in your ears.
Electro-optical semi-transparent screen (Heads-up display) HW with a resolution of 1280×720, which is located on the inside of the helmet and increases our viewing angle, while at the same time showing what is happening behind us. The screen can be easily removed and stored if desired.
Washable air filter, which protects you from dust, allergens, odors and other invisible harmful particles on your way.
Modular equipment, which certainly sets us apart from the competition. Namely, most of the iC-R components are modular and can be replaced individually, which makes the helmet even more unique, useful and affordable.

SOFTWARE:

With the electro-optical semi-transparent screen, we have taken the latest and safest approach. The iC-R offers you a unique and extremely safe experience. The screen only shows you the essentials (what’s happening behind you, navigation, potential dangers nearby and a sign to let you know if you’re recording your ride).
ESAS emergency alert system, which is connected to your smartphone and in the event of an accident and/or immobility of the driver, immediately and automatically calls selected contacts and the nearest emergency services.
Voice commands. It is a system where all the functions offered by the smart helmet are controlled solely with our voice, which provides the driver with a great deal of safety and freedom.
Bluetooth Mesh Network is a strong and stable connection that allows multiple motorcyclists to connect and communicate while riding.
The front 4K camera with 60 frames per second (FPS) and image stabilization allows the driver to record the ride and live stream it.

"MAKE A DIFFERENCE"

The smart helmet brings a big change to the world of motorcycling. It is a product that at first glance looks ordinary, but in fact combines modern technology and aesthetic excellence. Our industrial designers devoted a lot of time and attention to arranging it, because the helmet has a lot of components due to its many functions. All the additional components offered by the smart helmet had to be incorporated into the frame, while maintaining the aesthetic appearance. It was necessary to increase the thickness of the shell, while maintaining the appropriate size of the helmet so that it does not look too big on the motorcyclist’s head.

Designing a smart helmet was also a big challenge for experienced industrial designers. It was necessary to incorporate all the technological components under the helmet shell, while ensuring that the primary function of the helmet was not weakened. A lot of cables had to be interwoven so that they did not affect the breathability, comfort and, of course, the safety of the helmet. We technically designed and designed significantly more pieces than in any other product to date. The helmet represents a common language between functionality, modern technology and aesthetic excellence. Time for change, time for Kreatif-Design studio.

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