Hi dear friends, sorry I was unable to post to this blog recently. With the 'vacation' we got, :) , I'll put some of my thoughts here. I thought to start a Sinhala Blog also and expect to see that in near future.
‘Go Green’ motorcyclist’s Helmet with a wireless Hands-Free device
It is quite familiar to see today’s motorcycle riders use (mainly to make calls) their mobile phones while riding. A simple observation reveals that most of them just put the mobile phone inside their helmet while a few of them use a Bluetooth™ hands-free device mounted on ear while keeping the phone in a pocket. Both these methods are unsafe and uncomfortable, as the conventional motorcycle helmets are not designed to hold any other equipment inside it, other than a human head.
An improved motorcycle helmet will come up as a solution for the betterment of all the motorcycle riders. The new product comes with ‘stereo’ speakers mounted inside the helmet and a microphone fitted inside, provided with a Bluetooth™ hands-free device which will allow to connect the speakers and the microphone with a Bluetooth™ enabled mobile phone. As present day mobile phones come with advanced music playing facilities, the improved helmet will act as a music playback device or as a radio to entertain the rider on the move. The most interesting question arises next. How will you get the power to perform all these functions?
This question is answered while having the Go Green concept in mind. The improved helmet is provided with solar cells fixed on the top of it. The helmet is powered up by a built-in battery, which can be charged using the energy converted by the solar cells as well as by connecting to an AC supply.
The outer shell of the helmet is designed according to aerodynamics to ensure the user have the maximum comfort and a very low drag force while in use. Also the aesthetic aspects are highly concerned when marketing the complete package and can be provided in different colours and designs to suit the different target groups. A volume controller fitted on the outer cover can be provided as an option.
1. Need for the product
The primary need of a motorcycle helmet is to ensure the safety of the rider. In case of an accident, it should be able to protect the head of the user from being damaged. While keeping the primary objective in mind, some modifications can be done to improve the functionality of the conventional motorcycle helmet by providing more facilities integrated.
The improved motorcycle helmet is designed to overcome the difficulties faced by the riders when they want to use the mobile phone while riding. It primarily improves road safety as the rider is provided with a safe way to communicate on the go. Also the
2. User requirements
The end users are expecting to have a comfortable and an easy way to use their mobile phones while riding. The long distance riders would like very much to have an integrated ‘stereo’ music play back device fitted in to their comfortable helmets to entertain them throughout the journey. Also the user would like to get rid of the noise occurred due to the wind while using a conventional Bluetooth™ hands-free device. Also they would prefer to have an aesthetically attractive helmet with a sleek modern design. As the improved helmet is provided with solar cells ( Go Green Concept ), the user need not to worry about charging the device occasionally. This can be charged using the AC supply also.
3. Engineer’s perspective
The helmet should meet the required standards of safety.
Integrated parts should NOT cause any harm for the user in case of an accident.
A rechargeable battery unit having a suitable Ah output should be used.
The required number of solar cells must be used to charge the built in battery.
The sound of the speakers should have a maximum limit which will not interfere safety and health of the user.
The weight of the unit should be highly considered. The additional parts used in, should be made out of low weight materials.
