The augmented-reality helmet seems to be today's great white whale of motorcycle technology. A number of companies claim to be close to bringing one to market, yet no one has actually delivered. One company that seemed close was, in reality, just blowing all of its crowd-sourced cash on strippers and cars.
Fortunately, there are others out to get the concept to production. Another is Andrew Artishchev and his company Livemap. He's created his second prototype and hoping to show it at Las Vegas's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. His goal is to bring a helmet with a head-up display (HUD) to market six months after it is shown to the public. It appears that he's well on his way to doing so.
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Still, as we've said earlier, many others have tried to do the same.
The outer shell will be built in factories already turning out DOT-approved helmets in use by name-brand helmet makers. Andrew and Livemap will supply the HUD guts. There will be a navigation system, and the displays should be clear and easy to see for the rider without causing distractions that may get in the way of the road ahead. Additionally, there are plans to include a camera that will record in 4K or full HD, as well as Bluetooth to enable hands-free calling.
All of this won't come cheap, of course. Livemap plans to sell its helmet for $2,000. Pre-orders will allow you to take $500 off of that price. That's a lot of coin for features that not every motorcyclist will want to add to their daily riding experience. Still, for long-haul or road-tripping bikers, this could prove to be a valuable asset.
We hope Livemap is able to bring its tech to market and that buyers respond positively. Time will tell.
