Americans who ride love our motorcycles. Typically, we also have a significant other who tolerates the motorcycling hobby even though there are significant dangers involved. No technology can eliminate poor rider behavior (riding too fast or under the influence), but technology can help protect responsible riders from distracted automobile drivers. We are also a society that loves to customize our rides with aftermarket accessories – especially three-wheel rides like the Polaris Slingshot, Can-Am Spyder or Vanderhall Carmel. Why not spend some money on an accessory that can enhance your ride and potentially save your life?
Enter Ride Vision
Ride Vision is a motorcycle safety technology company based in Israel that is looking to gain access into other markets. They have partnered with a sensor company called Onsemi to develop advanced safety solutions for motorcyclists. Ride Vision’s technology includes the software that will send visual alerts to LED strips that are mounted on the rear-view mirrors. This includes forward alerts, blind spot alerts and rear alerts. Rear alerts are very welcome as sitting at a traffic light without a vehicle stopped behind you while you are riding gives the impression you are a sitting-duck motorcyclist. According to Ride Alert, their collision aversion technology uses automotive-grade image sensors from Onsemi to provide riders with timely warnings about impending dangers on the road, avoiding a high percentage of accidents and helping save lives.
Cameras on the Bike
Two cameras with image sensors are used in each system, mounted on the front and rear of the bike. The cameras capture high-quality images and transmit them to a small onboard processing unit, which uses Ride Vision’s proprietary and unique algorithms for two- and three-wheeled vehicles to give riders unobtrusive 360-degree collision alerts in real time.
Uri Lavi, CEO of Ride Vision said, “We are excited about what this collaboration will do for the safety of all riders on the road. By combining Onsemi’s high dynamic range sensor family with our own technology, we can offer motorcyclists the highest levels of safety.”
Motorcycle Neglect
Although ADAS systems have become a priority for cars and trucks, motorcycles sometimes take a back seat. “Motorcycles and riders share the same traffic and weather conditions with other motorists, but they have not yet been able to use the same level of safety mechanisms for protection,” said Chris Adams, vice president and general manager of the Automotive Sensing Division at Onsemi. “Our work with Ride Vision on this advanced safety solution changes that by providing motorcycles the same high-performance, high dynamic range image sensors used in passenger cars. Keeping all road users safe is the most important thing to ultimately achieve Vision Zero.”
Tweaking the System for Your Riding Style
Intrusive alerts are the last thing you want when you’re going out for a leisurely ride. Ride Vision users can customize the level of alerts they want to receive in a personal app and benefit from accessing three-hour continuous-loop videos of all their rides, which can be used for both insurance and leisure purposes.
Ride Vision is currently the only commercial Advanced Rider Assistance System designed for two- and three-wheeled vehicles and is already making waves in selected markets around the world, including in Israel, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and, soon, the U.S.
In Israel, they tested the technology through an insurance carrier that funded a safety study of motorcyclists. The study found that after receiving a front Distance Keeping Alert, results show a 25% to 63% relative speed reduction. After receiving a Front Collision Alert, the results showed an immediate 10% reduction of the relative speed. This translates to a 60% reduction in fatal collisions.
Our motorcycles are tied into the American landscape as part of our freedom. We can still have our freedom and safety through technology!
