Photo: Craig Sillitoe
It's like bicycle helmet meets Daft Punk. Dutch designer Wouter Walmink created a flashing helmet called LumaHelm with 104 multicolored LED lights that can act as (stylish) indicators:
The LumaHelm is based on a standard helmet fitted with lights powered by AA batteries and a sensor that measures movement of the cyclist's head.
An Arduino microcontroller placed in the cyclist's pocket translates those movements into light patterns.As well as lighting up when a cyclist turns, the helmet, which meets Australian safety standards, lights up at the back when a cyclist brakes.
Mr Walmink says his invention could improve cyclist safety. ''I wanted to make people more visible. I have been cycling around a little bit with this helmet and people definitely notice you coming,'' he says.
It could also signal the end of cyclists poking out their hands as indicators. ''There's a reason why cars have blinkers,'' Mr Walmink says . ''Sticking out your hand on a bike is not the clearest way to communicate that you're turning. The indicator and braking functions communicate information that makes the situation safer.''