Getting up and around on a bicycle is one thing – it not only helps you to reduce your overall carbon footprint, but it also gives you the opportunity to get some exercise in at the same time. Having said that, you might have taken all of the relevant precautions to ensure that you are seen while on the road, but there are instances where drivers are so into their smartphones while driving, or are simply daydreaming, that they fail to see you right until the very last moment, which could lead to some rather harrowing experiences. Bicycle helmets are worn to offer protection in the event of a fall or an accident, but here is a new smart bike helmet that will “talk” to cars, warning them that you are there on the road – and vice versa.
Volvo has kicked off an initiative with both Ericsson and Swedish helmet manufacturer POC in order to reveal a helmet that will hook up through Bluetooth to your smartphone. This connection allows your helmet to broadcast your current position, albeit targeting Volvos that have this special kind of connectivity built-in as a standard feature. According to Klas Bendrik, VP and group CIO at Volvo Cars, “…by exploring cloud-based safety systems, we are getting ever closer to eliminating the remaining blind spots between cars and cyclists and by that avoid collisions.”
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