Motorcycle helmets with head-up displays and augmented reality were science fiction just a few years ago. But now major helmet manufacturers and startups are working to incorporate Google Glass-like functionality into their gear.
The latest company to throw its brain bucket into the ring is Skully, but the Silicon Valley company isn’t content with simply providing navigation and phone connectivity. They’re upping the ante with a 180-degree rearview camera.
The Skully P1 combines smartphone-pairing and voice controls with a HUD showing both turn-by-turn directions and a full 180-degree view of what’s behind the rider. According to Skully, that not only provides a complete view of the rear, but entirely eliminates blind spots.
The Skully Synapse HUD is integrated into the helmet visor and appears to float around 20 feet ahead of the rider’s field of view. Although the map is persistent, two views are available: one with a simple design incorporated into the rearview display and another for more detailed turn-by-turn navigation. Skully claims the lithium ion battery is good for nine hours — a full day’s worth of riding — and the helmet will meet both the U.S. DOT and European ECE safety standards.
The company has forked Android to create the Skully Operating System to incorporate voice controls, play music, get directions, and connect with both iOS and Android devices. And the company plans to release an SDK for developers later this year.
As for pricing, that’s still up in the air, but you can get in line to be part of the beta-testing set to begin in the next few months.
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