Daily Slideshow: Quin Crafts a Smart Helmet For Improved Safety
Tradition meets tech makes these helmets that focus on bringing safety into the world of "smart" gear.
Smart Helmets
The concept of a "smart helmet" has been around since people began slipping earbuds into their helmets when going on a ride. The ability to communicate with other folks beyond hand signals, listen to music, and staying connected is an important part of riding for many people.
Safety; A Gold Mine
Anyone that rides a motorcycle knows that this is an expensive hobby. First, you get the bike and then you get the proper gear. Dealers and manufacturers know that safety and style mean big profits and this has resulted in technical innovation beyond the motorcycle and onto the gear, particularly the helmet.
Quinn Helmets
Like other helmets in the market, Quintessential Design, LLC has developed a "smart helmet" with the usual amenities; wireless connectivity to your smartphone, hands-free calling, and music streaming to onboard speakers. This helmet, however, sports a GPS unit capable to detect a crash and route emergency response teams to your location. Hikers and campers would recognize this technology from devices such as SPOT.
The Start-UP Dream
Start-up companies that are trying to push new technologies are doing so at an ever faster pace. There is a great deal of technology and innovation that is waiting to be funded in order to make the leap into mainstream retail. Unfortunately, it is a hard road for many small companies. The start-up game requires a great deal of money and luck and the vast majority of the companies never get their ideas beyond the concept stage. In 2016 SKULLY technologies introduced a carbon fiber helmet with a heads-up display, rear-view camera, turn-by-turn navigation, and phone connectivity that was the talk of the internet for the better part of the year. By the end of 2016, the company announced that it would not be able to keep up with pre-orders and the backlog began. Many people who preordered this helmet never even received it.
In 2018, SKULLY announced that it had received funding and the new SKULLY Fenix AR would begin to take pre-orders. With a sour taste in their mouth, consumers are not likely to pre-order.
Quinn vs. SCULLY
Because this is such as small market, this comparison far from fair. While the Quinn designers are hoping to attract a comfort-conscious rider the SKULLY attempts to lure its customers looking for tech. Yes, both of these lids are packed with tech but the Quinn helmet is more based on safety while the SCULLY is almost solely dedicated to gear and geek tech-types.
Head-Tech
There is no doubt that motorcycles will continue to evolve into technologically filled machines. Helmets, however, is where much research and development is being diverted to in order to address comfort, durability, sound suppression, an impact rating, and wireless-and-hands-free technology. While the riding purist out there will consider very little beyond a charger for their bike there are a number of people who are very interested in riding technology that allows us to multi-task and stay connected.
Check out what Quin is capable of right here.
Check out what SKULLY has going on right here.
For maintenance and repair guides for your Harley, browse our technical How-to articles right here at HDForums.com!
