Development of a fully independent helmet mounted deceleration detection and indicator for motorcycle application

A key tenant of the Order of the Engineer is that engineers must use their knowledge and understanding of the applied sciences to benefit society. As an avid motorcyclist it became apparent that rider safety could be enhanced if there were a rear facing light placed on a motorcycle helmet that acted as both a running and brake light. As the driving environment continues to experience light pollution, both ambient and dynamic, it becomes ever more difficult for the single rear facing motorcycle light currently mandated by law, to achieve its goal of distinguishing and informing observers that a vehicle is present and is acting dynamically in the driving environment. A second visual point of reference would be highly effective in providing the necessary context for road denizens to cognitively identify that a motorcycle is present and determine its current dynamic state.;A successful brake light application and algorithm was achieved using a 3 axis accelerometer. This was achieved using a single axis of data with a very slow sample rate, which would indicate that a more robust solution is available. None of the data is inexplicable or unexpected. There is enough information to understand the key issues and the specific design parameters necessary to robustly design a brake light helmet. There was not a significant improvement in the data when the sensor was placed near the rider's chest. However, any brake light set into the upper back of a motorcycle jacket will likely have good results and maybe a viable alternative or addition to a brake light mounted on a motorcycle helmet.