Akuma HelmetsJun 5th, 2009 - 18:16:02

Dear M&C,

Akuma Helmets, www.akumahelmets.com, already has patented this system and is actively selling the product worldwide.

Report this comment

ETJun 5th, 2009 - 19:32:39

www.bikesafer.com has more on helmet lights in the conspicuity page....

Report this comment

modchenJun 9th, 2009 - 20:55:40

since i'm a PTW blogger, i was interested in the akuma helmets - it sounds as if this is really useful technology.
unfortunately, however, akuma's take on it doesn't appear to be the same as what this blog entry is talking about at all: the 'IPS' powersources -- which power small LED-based lights of their proprietary design, internal to the helmet, NOT on the scooter -- are unshown and no details are given as to the nature of the power source. it could be drycell batteries, 'wetcell' batteries, wind turbines, even kinetic-based. there's no telling what you're paying for.
not only that: akuma's products are small helmet lights, which you can buy independently already. it's not even close to what this article is talking about, which is repurposing 'waste' energy to power some of the non-motive features of the vehicle. it's synergetic and considerably more advanced than sticking some LED lights on your helmet.

i hope this concept can be extended to other non-motive systems, like stereos, CDIs, et c. - i could use a wind-charged ipod recharger on my bike ASAP.

Report this comment

gertrudeCharltonJun 10th, 2009 - 04:25:53

$32 Electric Powered Wheelchairs at www.lowcostwheelchairs.blogspot.com

Report this comment

JeffJun 15th, 2009 - 19:45:49

Huh?

first off, you're not talking 'waste energy'. Assuming you're using the wind from the bike, the turbines will cause aerodynamic drag. Thanks to the 1st law of thermodynamics, we know that the drag will be more than the power generated by the system (due to parasitic losses, friction, etc.) The path the energy travels is more convoluted than an alternator attatched directly to the engine (engine->powertrain->wind->turbine->alternator->batteries->random magic (I'll address this in a minute)->lights vs. engine->alternator->batteries->lights) each time you convert energy you lose a little bit.

then there's the power over bluetooth issue. To paraphrase Morbo, 'BLUETOOTH DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY' while in theory you can induce some power out of radio signals, we're talking milliamps at best here... not enough for even the most efficient lights to power a backlighting LED, much less something like a headlight.

so um, I'm going to remain skeptical about this for now...

Report this comment

GuestJun 16th, 2009 - 10:29:00

Neck strain !
At 100 km/h, that's 28 meters per second.
1 Joule of energy is 1 Newton x 1 meter
1 Watt is 1 Joule per second
1 Watt is 1 Newton x 1 meter per second
So 28 Watts at 28 meters per second exerts a force of 1 Newton
=100grams.
10% efficiency would give a drag of a kilogram on the rider's head for 28 Watts.
An alternator or dynamo should be more efficient anyway !

Report this comment