When we last checked in with Cerevellum, the Hindsight 35 had just about hit the market after a few upgrades including ANT+. Sales were good, but there seemed to be one thing missing that many customers were looking for – GPS. Enter the Cerevellum Scope. Built with the same sunlight readable 3.5″ screen, the Cerevellum Scope uses the same recording system as the original to continuously record what’s behind you in a 5 minute loop. Should you have an accident, the Scope has a built in accelerometer that will detect the impact and save the last 5 minutes as a record of events.
See what’s new with the Scope, and what’s new with Cerevellum after the break!
Yes, the Scope is being offered through a Kickstarter Campaign. To see what was going on with Cerevellum and what the Scope was all about, we caught up with Cerevellum’s current manager, Chip Adams.
Bikerumor: Do you see the Scope as a replacement for your average cycle computer/GPS?
Chip Adams: Yes, we do. It is going to provide you with all the data that standard cyclometers do (current speed, max speed, average speed, distance traveled, odometer, stopwatch, time elapsed) plus the ANT+ compatibility allows you to display data from an HR monitor (heart rate and calories) or a cadence sensor. The only thing this iteration will not be able to display is data from a power meter. I had considered adding a downloadable power app as a stretch goal if we really ran past our funding goal, but the project doesn’t seem to be trending that way, at this point.
In addition, the unit will now be outfitted with a GPS chip, GPS antenna, and software for recording GPS data in a “bread crumbing” manner. The unit will record the GPS data from the ride and store/create it in a file format that will be uploadable to Strava. The Strava profile can then show the route, elevation change, and some time stamped cyclometer data from the ride that can be shared with friends. We are also considering adding a larger battery depending on cost and funding.
Bikerumor: Will the GPS feature offer turn by turn navigation?
Chip Adams: As currently designed, no (another potential but unlikely stretch goal). The rider can view the route after it has been ridden and uploaded, which can come in handy if it is a new ride the user likes and wants to ride again, but there will be no display mode associated with GPS.
Bikerumor: Say someone hits you hard enough to send you flying and destroy your bike – how durable is the unit as far as recovering that last 5 minutes of recording if the head unit gets damaged?
Chip Adams: The head unit is similar in design (internal electronics) to a Smartphone. Most of the electronics will need to be operating (i.e. the unit must boot up and run the application) before the user can retrieve the video across the USB cable. The video is stored on an internal flash chip (soldered to the PCB) similar to the chips used in SD cards or thumb drives. The user cannot remove the flash chip to retrieve the data. If the screen is cracked or broken, but the unit still boots up then the data can be retrieved.
Bikerumor: What has transpired since the Hindsight 35 was introduced until now?
Chip Adams: We have worked through some design flaws and manufacturing shortfalls with the Hindsight 35, and arrived at the decision that we need a higher quality, more robust device to really compete with the best devices on the market. The founder has moved on, and is no longer in a full-time role with the company. We are under new management and new ownership, and looking to essentially re-launch with improvements to what we still believe is a good concept.
Bikerumor: Who’s currently involved with the project?
Chip Adams: I am now the manager of Cerevellum and am running the business day-to-day. We have an advisory board of three individuals who are either current or former executives that is heavily involved. We are working with a well-known electronics design firm in Greenville and a manufacturer in the lower part of the state.
Bikerumor: What does the future hold for Cerevellum?
Chip Adams: We hope to reach our funding goal on Kickstarter and release the new unit next fall. After that, we will continue to work within our patent on the rear-view/accident capture concept to deliver products that keep cyclists safer and help them perform better. We will also likely looks for other markets that are a good fit for the technology.
Out of the box, the Scope head unit will fit 26.0-31.8 bars while the wired camera is attached to the seatpost. As an added safety bonus, like the Hindsight, the Scope’s camera features a flashing LED light so you only need one gadget attached to your post. Included with the unit is a speed sensor and magnet, and is compatible with ANT+ devices like heart rate straps and cadence sensors. As a Cerevellum Kickstarter backer you can get in on the Scope for $299 for the Super Early Bird, but after the 64 remaining are gone, the price bumps up to $329. You have until December 14th to pledge, with production units estimated to be shipping in August 2014.
Specifications:
- Size: 125mm x 86.32mm x 18.77mm (head unit)
- Weight: 227 grams (head unit, mount, and camera)
- Battery: 240mAh Lithium-Ion, 5-hour run time
- Processor: 800mhz
- Memory: 128 MB solid-state flash
- Recording: 5-minute video loop, 640×480 resolution, with integrated accelerometer
