Forcite Helmets is researching live-saving motorcycle technology

Forcite Helmets has been awarded a significant research grant to help reduce motorcycle accidents and fatalities with an advanced rider assistance system.

The $1,650,505 grant will be shared with the University of Canberra, Macquarie University, Western Sydney University, and other industry partners.

Partnering with the three universities, Transport for NSW, APPRO Photoelectron Inc., NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), and Harley-Davidson Australia, Forcite will help develop a next-generation smart helmet and sensing system to pre-empt and identify hazards, such as debris and other road users, that alerts riders so they can take evasive action. The multi-stage cooperative project is worth a total of $5,654,275.

“With motorcycle fatalities 30 times higher than other road users, it’s time to take action,” said Forcite CEO and co-founder, Alfred Boyadgis. “By bringing together cutting-edge smart helmet technology and advanced rider assistance systems, we can help pre-empt hazards, enabling swift evasive action.”

While collision avoidance systems, such as lane departure warnings and autonomous emergency braking, are now commonplace in new cars, equivalent technology in motorcycling is still largely uncharted territory.

Forcite Helmets has gained recognition for its pioneering ‘smart’ helmets, which feature in-built cameras, audio, and heads-up displays. The company’s latest offering is the Forcite MK1S, which bikesales has been testing. But this new project will seek to take the next step and explore new technologies that could make ultimately make motorcycling safer.

According to a press release, the research project will consist of two main stages – detection and intervention. The University of Canberra’s Human-Centred Technology (HCT) Research Centre will be leading the detection stage to help develop a smart sensing system.

Meanwhile, researchers from Western Sydney University will evaluate the effects of different types of helmet-based heads-up display information on rider behaviour and cognition using a custom-designed motorcycle simulation environment.

And Professor Anina N Rich, from Macquarie University’s School of Psychological Sciences, will draw on expertise in sensory and cognitive processing to support the cutting-edge project. Her team will use cognitive science measures of attention and cognitive load, such as response time, accuracy, and eye movements, to optimise the delivery of information from the smart helmet to the rider.