Cosmo Connected Heralds The Advent Of Helmet-Mounted Smart Brake Lights
Only two products are required to make a good idea a category of gear. With the advent of Cosmo Connected and the previously reported Brake Free, the era of the helmet-mounted smart brake light has arrived. These devices do not require a connection to the motorcycle but, rather, use internal sensors to detect deceleration, such as engine braking, to trigger a brake light on the back of the rider’s helmet. The high location of the units places them in the line of sight of most drivers, offering motorcyclists a greater level of conspicuity.
Brake Free Reaches 175% Funding On Indiegogo
However, the Cosmo Connected is more than just a remote light. Once connected to either an Android or iOS app, the app will automatically notify first responders and individuals (that the rider has selected) if the unit detects a crash and the rider does not respond within three minutes. According to a Cosmo Connected representative, “If the app is running in the background and Bluetooth in turned on, all the rider has to do is to double tap on either end of the device to turn it on. It will automatically pair up with the app and start tracking movements.”
Aside from this potentially life-saving feature, the Cosmo Connect can easily be swapped to different helmets thanks to its magnetic mount. Battery life is a claimed 5-8 hours of continuous use, which should cover most rides.
This new category of safety equipment intrigues us, and Motorcycle.com will procure and test production units of these smart brake lights as soon as they are available.
Begin Press Release:
San Francisco, CA – April 26, 2017 – Soaring down the freeway at high speeds and feeling the wind race past is an adrenaline thrill motorcyclists crave. Unfortunately, the risk of accidents is higher on a motorcycle, often from distracted drivers unaware of motorcyclists around them. Cosmo Connected is a detachable smart helmet accessory that combines a rear brake light and mobile application designed to keep riders safe.
If an accident does occur, whether caused by another vehicle or not, Cosmo Connected helps motorcyclists get the help they need. If an accident happens at night or an area with minimal traffic, it could be hours before paramedics arrive. But Cosmo Connected has a built-in gyroscope that detects when a rider falls, and alerts roadside assistance services. If the rider does not respond within three minutes, it contacts family and friends and sends GPS coordinates to emergency responders.
To aid emergency responders in giving medical care, users can add important medical history to the mobile app to provide specific medical requests, medication allergies and blood type. Having health information readily available means the difference between life and death.
The device is designed for all circumstances motorcyclists find themselves in, including non-life threatening situations, from taking a break at the side of the road to riding in day-to-day traffic. Twelve bright LED lights light up to alert surrounding drivers at eye level when motorcyclists decelerate. This gives other drivers time to react accordingly to prevent accidents. Cosmo Connected is also programmable to blink like a hazard light if needed.
But Cosmo Connected isn’t just for the person wearing the helmet. Being family or friends with motorcycle riders can be nerve-racking because they never know if they are late because of traffic, or because they were in an accident. Cosmo Connected provides peace of mind with arrival and departure times connected through the app.
Made of lightweight polycarbonate and EPDM rubber, Cosmo Connected weighs just 5.3 ounces. The device is attached magnetically to the base of the helmet, making it easy to remove. The base is made to fit the curve of any motorcycle helmet. Its lithium polymer rechargeable battery lasts for over eight hours on a charge and recharged via USB, always ready for an impromptu road adventure to last as long there is gas in the tank.
Although Cosmo Connected is designed with motorcyclists in mind, bicyclists can use this device on their helmets too. Sharing the road with Lyfts/Ubers, buses, cars and pedestrians create a tricky environment for bicyclists to navigate safely in urban centers or road biking. Cosmo Connected will alert the surrounding environment of their presence.
Key Features:
- LEDs attached to a motorcyclist’s helmet to act as a brake light at a driver’s eye level
- Curved to fit any motorcycle helmet
- Built in gyroscope to detect if rider has fallen
- GPS coordinates sent to emergency responders
- Friends and family stay connected with notification alerts
Pricing:
The Kickstarter campaign launches today and will last 45 days with a goal of $50,000 and an estimated shipping date of August 2017 at the price of $119. The early bird special start at $99 with delivery slated for July 2017. The regular price is $149 for aluminum and $249 for carbon. Consumers have the option to buy four and get one free.
For more information, visit us at CosmoConnected.com or check out our Kickstarter!
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About Cosmo Connected:
Cosmo Connected is a Parisian startup specializing in the development of connected objects for the physical safety of motorcyclists. Romain Afflelou is the Chairman, Frederic Metge is the CEO and Laurent de Bernede is the COO.
Like most of the best happenings in his life, Evans stumbled into his motojournalism career. While on his way to a planned life in academia, he applied for a job at a motorcycle magazine, thinking he’d get the opportunity to write some freelance articles. Instead, he was offered a full-time job in which he discovered he could actually get paid to ride other people’s motorcycles – and he’s never looked back. Over the 25 years he’s been in the motorcycle industry, Evans has written two books, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects and How to Modify Your Metric Cruiser, and has ridden just about every production motorcycle manufactured. Evans has a deep love of motorcycles and believes they are a force for good in the world.
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I am really looking forward to your comprehensive review of this product.
Great ideas. This one seems to stick out quite a ways on the back of the helmet. The Brakefree looks larger and more attention grabbing but doesn't have the app and notifications system.
The good news is in a year or so there will likely be a bunch to choose from.