“Helm Sync” Smart Helmet
Mid-Fidelity Prototype
Our Product
Helm Sync is a smart bicycle helmet designed to help cyclists have a safer, more enjoyable ride. The Helm Sync mobile app connects to the helmet via bluetooth, allowing users to seamlessly access their music, biking routes, and helmet battery status. Users can pull down an adjustable AR (augmented reality) visor that allows users to view important data, such as their biking route and speed, in their peripheral for a distraction-free ride. For increased rider safety, the helmet leverages visual, audio, and haptic cues to notify users of hazards like cars and obstructions that are detected by the built-in sensors. To control and interact with the helmet users can use the dedicated knobs, with one side controlling the display on the visor and one side controlling music and voice commands. This solar-powered helmet provides cyclists with everything they need to optimize their biking experience.
Sketching
SKETCHING FEEDBACK
Feedback was solicited from 4 participants of varying biking experience and demographics, all of which offered valuable insights. One user, a seasoned cyclist in their 50’s, emphasized keeping the design of the helmet simple and adopting a “less is more” approach for easy and quick use. Another user, a recreational bike-rider in his late 20’s, questioned the layout of data on the visor, suggesting that we look to first-person shooter video game HUDs (heads-up display) for inspiration on how to display information without obstructing the user’s view.
Overall, all participants expressed concern over the balance of functionality and minimizing distractions. They responded positively to the ability to adjust the visor layout or the visor itself, and found all features to be a positive addition to their biking experience.
Our Final Product
The feedback helped us finalize the prototype's features. The helmet now includes an adjustable visor that can retract when not in use and display essential ride data. For controls, a knob on the left adjusts the visor display, while one on the right manages music and volume, with a button for voice activation. Integrated speakers provide audio for notifications and directions, keeping the rider aware of ambient sounds. Lights on the helmet illuminate when nearby objects are detected, enhancing safety. Solar panels extend battery life, and a Bluetooth-connected app allows users to play music, select routes, and check battery status.
APP INTEGRATION
AR VISOR VIEW
DEsign Justification
Design Decisions
The group’s design decisions were driven by the feedback that emphasized safety and practicality in the required functionality of the helmet. This is primarily reflected in the implementation of the adjustable visor and HUD-inspired display layout, which was designed to minimize visual disruptions. Focusing on minimizing visual clutter also helps emphasize the importance of the light indicators to the user when there is a hazard.
Another important design decision was how the audio and display would be controlled. Based on the feedback knobs felt the most intuitive to users, however, this is something we would look to test against other options, such as buttons on the helmet or the bike itself.
The last major decision the group made was how data would be integrated into the smart helmet. Our explorations included mobile apps, tablet displays on the bicycle, and wearable devices like a smart watch, however a mobile app seemed to be the most intuitive and accessible, which was also supported by user feedback.
Reflection on the Process
While collaborating on a physical prototype might have been more efficient to do as an in-person team, our group was able to successfully produce a viable prototype. Throughout the iterative process, we were able to asynchronously critique and synthesize ideas rooted in data provided by user feedback, leading us to a cohesive design direction.
REFLECTION ON USER feedback
User feedback was the most valuable aspect of the design process, as not all group members had cycling experience. Things that would seem obvious to even a recreational bike rider, such as how information was displayed on the visor, can get lost in the design process for the sake of feature inclusion. Not only did users provide insights into what would work best for them, but they cited examples to look towards for design inspiration, such as video game HUDs for the visor display and solar-powered devices for battery life.
Overall, this collaborative, user-centered approach has helped us produce a design that integrates complex features while remaining user-friendly and safety-focused. Through this process, we learned the importance of balancing functionality with in-context usability, resulting in a helmet that makes cyclists safer and riding more enjoyable.