Rider-Worn Remote Lighting for Motorcycle Rear Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motorcycle illumination systems leave a large portion of the rear-viewable area unilluminated, putting motorcycle riders at a safety disadvantage compared to automobile drivers, as their clothing and helmets are not effectively coupled with the vehicle's tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals, reducing conspicuity in low-visibility conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a detector to sense the lighting state of host vehicle lights, a communications system to relay this state wirelessly, and remote lights located on the motorcycle rider's helmet and clothing to replicate the lighting state, using detectors like photodiodes and transmitters to ensure synchronized illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional motorcycle illumination systems are used, then the vehicle's tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals are illuminated, but a large portion of the rear-viewable area (rider's clothing and helmet) remains unilluminated, reducing conspicuity
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent components: host vehicle lights, detectors on the rider, wireless transmitters, and remote lights on clothing and helmet. This segmentation allows the illumination function to be distributed across multiple elements, illuminating both the vehicle and the rider separately to increase overall rear visibility without requiring a single complex integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
A wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the host vehicle lights and the remote lights on the rider's clothing and helmet. The detector senses the host light state, transmits this information wirelessly, and the remote lights replicate the illumination pattern, creating a coordinated illumination system that expands visibility to the rider's body without direct mechanical or electrical connection
2Reliability
If remote lights are added to the rider's clothing and helmet to replicate host light states, then rear visibility and conspicuity are improved, but the system complexity increases with detectors, communications systems, and synchronized lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The remote lights on the rider's clothing and helmet are self-regulating systems that automatically detect, receive, and replicate the host vehicle's light states without manual intervention. The detector automatically senses when host lights are activated, the wireless transmitter automatically communicates this state, and the remote lights automatically illuminate in response, creating a self-service safety system that reduces the need for rider action while enhancing safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the detector that continuously monitors the host vehicle's light states and feeds this information back to the remote lights via wireless transmission. This feedback loop ensures that the remote lights on the rider's clothing and helmet remain synchronized with the vehicle's actual illumination state, providing accurate real-time visibility without requiring complex manual control systems
3Area of stationary object
If the rider's clothing and helmet are illuminated to match the vehicle's lighting state, then the rear-viewable area coverage is increased, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system operates periodically based on the actual lighting events of the host vehicle rather than continuously. The detector activates only when host lights are turned on, the wireless transmission occurs only during illumination events, and the remote lights illuminate only when needed to replicate the host light state. This periodic operation significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous illumination while still covering the necessary rear-viewable area during critical moments
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies illumination locally only to the specific areas that need enhancement (rider's clothing and helmet regions that are currently unilluminated) rather than uniformly illuminating the entire rider. The remote lights are positioned strategically on the clothing and helmet to target specific zones, and the illumination intensity is adjusted to match only the necessary portions of the rear-viewable area, optimizing energy use while maintaining safety
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances rear visibility by replicating the lighting states of host vehicle lights on the rider's helmet and clothing, improving safety by increasing conspicuity and reducing the risk of rear-end collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a detector configured to sense light emitted by a host light of a host vehicle for detecting a lighting state of the host light
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for replicating vehicular illumination are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a detector configured to sense light emitted by a host light of a host vehicle for detecting a lighting state of the host light. The system also includes a communications system configured to communicate the detected lighting state between the host light and the remote light. Further, the system includes a remote light being located on one of the host vehicle and an operator of the host vehicle and configured to replicate the lighting state of the host light.