Motorcycle Helmet Camera Integration for Aerodynamic Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motorcycle camera systems available are either conspicuous, increasing aerodynamic drag and compromising rider comfort and safety, or they are not effective in capturing a 360-degree view around the rider, especially in traffic collisions.
Innovation Solution
A camera system integrated into a motorcycle helmet with cameras flush-mounted to the exterior, concealed from view, and designed to not increase aerodynamic drag, along with a network of cameras on the helmet and motorcycle to capture a 360-degree view, including features to maintain the helmet's crash rating and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera system is mounted on top of the motorcycle helmet using a suction cup, then the camera can capture video, but the aerodynamic drag of the helmet increases appreciably, adversely affecting rider comfort and maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is integrated into the helmet structure itself, merging the camera housing with the helmet's outer shell and energy-absorbing liner. This eliminates the need for separate mounting accessories and ensures the camera becomes part of the helmet's aerodynamic profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera is positioned in a recess within the energy-absorbing liner, with the lens protruding only slightly through the outer shell. This localized integration allows the camera to be concealed within the helmet's structure, maintaining a smooth exterior surface that reduces aerodynamic drag while still enabling video capture functionality.
2Reliability
If a camera system is mounted conspicuously on the helmet, then the camera can capture video, but the rider's ability to accurately capture interactions is impaired because the other party knows they are being recorded
Solution Approach 1:
The camera lens protrudes only slightly from the helmet's outer shell, allowing it to be positioned strategically to capture relevant interactions while remaining visually inconspicuous. The recessed positioning within the energy-absorbing liner further conceals the camera, reducing its visual profile while maintaining functional capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cameras are integrated into the helmet with recesses in the energy-absorbing liner, then the aerodynamic drag is not increased, but the helmet structure must maintain its crash rating and safety integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The camera housing is nested within the energy-absorbing liner, with the lens protruding through the outer shell. This nested configuration allows the camera to be integrated into the helmet's existing safety structure, utilizing the liner's space without compromising the outer shell's integrity or the helmet's overall protective capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera housing is merged with the energy-absorbing liner structure, creating a unified component that maintains the liner's crash-absorbing properties while incorporating the camera system. This integration ensures that the safety function and video capture function work together without interfering with each other.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system includes a motorcycle helmet having an energy-absorbing inner liner, an outer shell surrounding at least a portion of the energy-absorbing inner liner, and a number of pockets in the motorcycle helmet. Each pocket includes an opening in the outer shell and a recess in the energy-absorbing liner. The camera system also includes a number of cameras in the pockets in the motorcycle helmet, and each camera includes a lens, an image sensor, and a processor. The camera system also includes a number of lens covers covering the cameras, and each lens cover is conformal with a portion of the outer shell proximate to the lens cover such that the cameras and the lens covers do not appreciably increase the aerodynamic drag of the motorcycle helmet.