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Kickstarter: Lumos Smart Helmet Integrates Automatic Brake Lights And Turn Signals For All Around Safety

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In order to combat challenges with visibility at night, Lumos was created to be an all-in one solution to help keep you safe in the dark. With over 60 LEDs integrated into the shell, the helmet is visible in all directions with a high positioning that makes it easy to see by motor vehicles. With automatic brake lights and a signaling system built in, the Lumos helps cars to see and anticipate your movements whether stopping or turning. It’s all wrapped up into a durable and comfortable package that you only have to worry about keeping recharged. More on how to light up your night after the jump…

This smart helmet features a built in accelerometer to sense when you’re slowing or stopping aggressively, to increase the brightness and number of the lights in the rear.

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Most exciting about this model, however, is a turn signal system that features a wireless remote signals for your handlebar. The button remote automatically pairs with your helmet when they are in close proximity and boasts a six month battery life with regular use. The remote, like the helmet, is water resistant to keep it running in wet weather conditions.

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There is a single port for a USB charger, so it is simple to keep lit, and a single button to turn on. With daily use on a 30 minute commute, the Lumos should last a week on a single charge.

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The Lumos comes in Charcoal Black or Pearl White, so you can match your color scheme, and two sizes to fit heads 54cm-62cm in circumference. The helmet meets CPSC and EN1078 safety requirements for the US and across the pond. The electronics meet both FCC and CE standards.

You can get your very own Lumos for $119 through this limited Kickstarter Special deal.

Kickstarter.com

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Simon
Simon
8 years ago

Wireless turn signals, vastly increased safety, good battery life, promised output of a decent rating, and a pricetag that’s about on par for a nice helmet and a pair of good-quality lights? Hell yes on this thing! If my night time riding happened on the roads, I would absolutely pick one of these up!

54
54
8 years ago

We had sold helmets in our shop that have flashing LEDs in the back …not the best seller. Don’t know if I can tell the difference between a left or right turn signal. if I am driving down the road at 35mph in the city, with all the distractions, and the rider’s head his moving around…

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

I think the idea of EFFECTIVE lights in a helmet is a great idea provided the weight can be kept down. I don’t care about the brake lights and turn signals, honestly I think it’s silly. But a bright front and rear light would be great.

That said, I think there are a fair number of technical challenges here to make this something I would buy. In the dark I ride with one or two CatEye Volt 700 lights on my bars. (700 lumens each) These are pretty heavy, but are sufficiently bright for me. Now that there are so many lighting options out there, I wouldn’t want to ride with anything less than 700 lumens and standalone lights with that brightness are in the $100 range.

Make it bright, make it light, make it inexpensive?? Not happening.

Awesome
Awesome
8 years ago

Did you guys see that they have already raised $175,000 on Kickstarter, wow that’s awesome.

I would buy one of these for those times I want to head through town on my MTB or road bike but can’t be bothered swapping over all my lights

Rider_X
Rider_X
8 years ago

@54 – You could make the same argument about car turn signals not being visible due to all the other light noise.

I see this as improving safety against both drivers and other cyclists. On busy cycling routes I often get strangers drafting me. I personally hate it. There must be a rule against that, no? When commuting I also stop at stop signs (yes, I am a bore) and prefer not having some inattentive out of shape rider crashing into me. The braking and turn feature could be useful here as a safe guard against other inattentive cyclists who may be riding too close. In my neck of the woods seems to be the biggest emerging danger!

There was some moaning about the turn signals, but I like the feature as it shows up on both the front and back of the helmet. And looks a lot more visible in the rain and dark of the winter than just a hand signal (of course assuming no one saw your signal anyway, is probably still the best).

My only complaint is MORE CRAP ON THE HANDLE BAR. I my dream world it should be a small button on my brifter, right next to the other button which activates the hidden motor so I can quickly drop the young roadies on a training ride while on my way to work. Getting dropped by an old middle aged commuter with panniers never feels good.

elvis
elvis
8 years ago

my n=1 examples (friends/acquaintences) is that most of the people I know who’ve been hit, this has happened in the daytime. ALL of them now use lights in the daytime (flashing up front and blinking red out back) ON their helmet in addition to lights on the bike.

I don’t have stats but allegedly daytime running lights on cars has reduced collisions by some percentage (google is all over the place here – 10 to 30%). I think THAT”s where this sort of thing would add some real value. I don’t think this one would be bright enough for daytime use though.

mateo
mateo
8 years ago

i just think this is a great idea im 100% behind this you have to take your saftey into your own hands!!!!!

briderdt
8 years ago

Signals… Just get confusing to motorists. Too close to the centerline to be effective, left turn signal appearing on the right side of the traffic lane… I like the idea of the lights on the helmet — I use a red blinker on mine when I’m riding in the dark. Bright white light above the eye line is useless for discerning contour, though.

Andrew
Andrew
8 years ago

This can only help improve road safety. In the video the rider uses hand signals in conjunction with the lights. So I don’t really understand the argument that drivers will not understand what’s happening. Additional safety features like this will only help in removing perceived barriers to average punters riding their bikes on the road.

I won’t be buying one myself, but I completely understand the appeal and there is definitely a market. Good on them, I hope it’s a success.

Andre - MTB LOVER
Andre - MTB LOVER
8 years ago

Will use this for sure as most of my winter training is in the dark off the trails. Great concept. Will prefer rechargeable batteries on both devices. Great job guys.

TypeVertigo
8 years ago

Great concept and neat integration.

Execution could be a better fit for my personal use case. I run all my lights even in daytime (two or three rear lights on steady glow and a Cat Eye Volt 1200 in HyperConstant mode), and for a long 4-5 hour Sunday morning ride the Lumos battery just isn’t going to cut it. However, as Version 1.0 of a sellable product, this ticks all the right boxes.

My only real questions are:

1) How well-ventilated is this helmet? Obviously the electronics and LEDs have to take up space on the helmet, space that might impede airflow over the head. This obstruction is most obvious on the helmet’s rear center.

2) Is there a “brake light only” mode, where the helmet’s rear LEDs stay off until the accelerometer detects deceleration – then come on as a brake light? That simple change would cater to those of us who would like the brake light function in the daytime, but would rather not burn through the helmet’s battery life.

Eu-wen
8 years ago

Hi everyone, Eu-wen here, I’m the founder of Lumos Helmet. Thanks so much BikeRumor for this amazing shout out!

And thank you everyone for your kind comments, encouragement, and questions! We’re not claiming to make the perfect product (no such thing), but we do hope that Lumos offers some incremental value to cyclists, especially those who bike commute a lot in the city where there is a lot of traffic.

You guys are part of our core audience, so we want to pay special attention to you guys 🙂

If you have more questions, thoughts, or comments, I invite you to drop us a line at info@lumoshelmet.co which is an email I manage, and I’ll personally get back to you.

Thanks everyone!

Eu-wen

Chris
Chris
8 years ago

@rider_x Except that with a car, everyone knows where to look for a turn signal. No one is looking at a bike for a turn signal.

sascetti
sascetti
8 years ago

I think bikerumor should reach out to Eu-wen and do an article. I live in GA and we’ve lost quite a few cyclists this year due to motorist incidents. Safety on the bike is a very important topic and maybe this thing will get us on the right track!

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