Bikes Blog
‘Outstanding’ Commuter Helmet Has Flip Indicators that Work by Nodding Your Head
May
Each rider desires to really feel extremely seen and as secure as attainable whereas cruising metropolis streets. One solution to improve that is by sporting a helmet with built-in lighting; One that gives flip alerts and brake lights is even higher.
Gamel’s ‘The Outstanding’ is the primary helmet to supply built-in flip alerts activated by a easy nod of your head. The helmet additionally consists of an computerized brake gentle perform. Gamel first launched The Outstanding luminous helmet with a profitable Kickstarter marketing campaign final yr. They’re now providing a full manufacturing mannequin instantly by their web site.
The Outstanding helmet just lately earned Gamel a 2024 Highway Security Innovation Award from France’s Highway Security Delegation. It’s licensed to be used within the USA and Europe.
The Outstanding Helmet – Development:
The Outstanding helmet options thermoformed building. It is available in one shell measurement, with the match adjustable from 55-59 cm. Along with biking this helmet can be appropriate for inline skating, skateboarding, scooters, and so forth., however please word it’s not supposed for electrical bikes that exceed 15mph.
For air flow, The Outstanding helmet has slots above the entrance gentle, above and under the rear gentle, and three extra massive ones up prime. Its inside padding is held in place with Velcro, so it will probably simply be eliminated for laundry.
The helmet gives a dial-operated retention system with three positions of peak adjustment. The chin strap features a Fidlock magnetic chin buckle, Y-buckle aspect adjusters, and a delicate cowl on the strap.
The Outstanding helmet incorporates a unisex design, and is available in 4 shade choices – Black, Cream, Blue or Khaki. Its weight is listed at 390g.
Electronics:
Now what makes this helmet particular is the digital parts and options. The Outstanding boasts vast entrance (white) and rear (pink) LED gentle strips, which offer visibility from all angles.
The Outstanding helmet is provided with a gyroscope and an accelerometer to detect your head actions. A nod within the path you wish to flip prompts the flip sign, however it additionally sounds a beep to let it’s picked up your motion and the sign is working. I believe the audio cue is a good concept, after testing a light-equipped backpack that merely didn’t work not less than half of the time and left the rider no indication.
To activate the flip alerts, the rider tilts their head in both path between 15-30°, then returns to an upright place. The flip sign blinks for eight seconds after it’s initiated, and the helmet beeps twice to let the sign has stopped. Each the entrance and rear LED strips blink to point turns.
To point braking, a velocity sensor makes the rear gentle brighter beneath robust deceleration. All rear LEDs gentle up repeatedly for 2 seconds, then change to a easy flashing mode for six seconds.
Taking cues out of your actions, The Outstanding helmet works with out a smartphone app or a distant management. It isn’t reliant on a Bluetooth connection, decreasing the possibility of useful failures. The helmet has an IP55 water resistance score, and its working temperature vary is -20c to 50c.
Operation:
The Outstanding helmet’s energy button is positioned on the again of the shell. A 3 second push turns the helmet on and a beep signifies it has powered up. Two beeps let the helmet has been switched off. On startup, the helmet will conduct a self-check, then beep twice to point it’s able to trip. After the battery life is proven (extra particulars under), the entrance and tail lamps each activate mechanically.
The helmet gives 4 working modes appropriate for various visibility situations. In Night time Mode, the entrance and rear LED strips keep lit, whereas the flip alerts and brake lights are useful. In Night time Mode With out Flip Indicators the entrance/rear LED strips are repeatedly lit, and the brake gentle stays energetic however the flip alerts don’t.
Superb for extending battery life, a Daytime Mode retains the entrance/rear LED strips turned off whereas cruising, however they are going to change on to activate the flip alerts and brake gentle. Lastly, an Alternate Mode leaves the entrance and tail lamps flashing, whereas the flip sign and brake gentle capabilities each stay energetic.
Customers change between working modes by urgent the button on the rear of the helmet twice. The double-tap was configured deliberately to forestall unintended switching between modes.
Battery Life and Charging:
The Outstanding helmet comes with a magnetic battery charger, and its run time is about 10 hours. Battery life is displayed on startup, by way of 5 pink indicator lights positioned beneath the facility button. The lights point out battery life at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% (left to proper). The indicator lights will keep on for 3 seconds however will be triggered once more by switching between the helmet’s modes when you don’t catch them.
The LEDs additionally point out the battery’s cost standing in the same method. At lower than 20%, all LEDs will blink from left to proper. Because the battery cost reaches 20%, 40% and so forth, the LEDs (from left to proper) will keep on steadily to point out what cost stage you’ve reached. When all 5 LEDs are lit repeatedly, the helmet is absolutely charged.
If The Outstanding helmet drops under 10% battery life, 4 beeps will sound twice in a row let it’s time to recharge. This warning repeats each 5 minutes, however you solely get just a few of them: after three warnings the helmet will flip off.
The Outstanding helmet and its digital parts are lined by a one-year guarantee. MSRP is €249 euros (approx. $270 USD).