Here's a project just waiting for someone to develop a motorcycle jacket version, shown here as a turn signal jacket for bicyclists, there isn't any reason why this couldn't be adapted to either a leather or textile jacket by some enterprising person or small company looking for an opportunity.
The jacket has sewn in directional indicators on the back which can be turned on individually to signal a turn or both at the same time for nighttime visibility.
The switches to turn on the signals as shown here might need rethinking to make activation easier, but the general idea is pretty interesting. The kit uses the LilyPad Arduino, a set of sewable electronic components from Leah Buechley, an Assistant Professor at the MIT Media Lab.
Sure, some riders might not want one, but a lot of others already wear bright orange or yellow safety vests and for those same folks, this would be a functional extension of the idea.
OK, who's going to be the first person to sew one of these into their motorcycle jacket. If you do, send your photos in with details and we'll put it up on The Kneeslider.
Thanks for the tip, Matt!
UPDATE: Just thinking about this a bit more and I know lots of you would say, "No way would I wear something like that!" but think a little longer and you'll come up with lots of very subtle ways to implement the idea. For the black leather jacket crowd, sometimes you might have a narrow reflective stripe around your chest, why not turn that into a row of LEDS you could turn on without any flashing, just use it at night. Very low key but nice safety feature. Or think about some sport bike jackets with lots of graphics, add some lights within the design and again, just turn them on at night for extra visibility. The turn signal idea would work at night, too, maybe just on the jacket sleeve. Take the idea and run with it.
Links: LilyPad Arduino by Leah Buechley via mocoloco
video below:
Tin Man 2 says
This should be very popular with the Gold Wing crowd !!! Seriously now, if you could integrate the signals into the Bikes signals, this could be the new Pet Rock, Somebody is going to get rich off this…. How about the guys who dont like T-Signals disturbing the style of their Custom Choppers, Move the signals to the Leathers and Schazam, You have lights. Glowing Land Pirates!!
Jim says
I can see it now, a clueless rider, traveling mile upon mile, the bikes right indicator flashing away, with the left jacket arrow flashing away.
James Bowman says
Tin man couldn’t have expressed it better myself exactly my thought somebody will do very well and it makes sense too.
fast eddie says
meet George Jetson
SteveD says
And soon we’ll be getting tickets for having a turn signal out on our jackets 😉
Thure says
If you take this idea a little further, you could have a full led text display on the back of your jacket to display whatever comes to mind. Like: “Thank You” or “%&¤# you”
Tucker Mclean says
That is a great idea. This will help out accidents around where I live. Many people ride bikes in downtown Athens, Ohio and at night time you can’t see them and they ride on the road not on the side walk. They will have to change where they have to switch turn signal. It is in a bad spot and if someone has their hand of that long going clear up to your chest to turn it u could wreck; especially in bad road conditions. If you change the place where they have to switch turn signals down closer to were they can reach it with ease so you don’t wreck it will help out. This is a awesome idea and I hope people use them and I think it will help vehicle drivers see them easier.
John McDowell says
Oh, let’s just take this a little further. When a bike or motorcycle manufacturer adds a turn signal switch, add an infared signal switch also, then you can have a “remote controlled” turn signal system in your jacket / shirt/ hat/ helmet / undies /thong or where-ever. Let’s use solar power to re-plunish the discharged batteries on the remote clothing. I will still take a responsible operator to use it.
Phoebe says
This would be very easy to integrate into a bike’s turn signal system. I don’t understand why they’re using something as complicated as an Arduino to just control directional lights though; it’s overkill.
I could see myself using this at night.
Thom says
While it’s really overkill, it IS a novel idea. I remember the turn signal module they sold for bicycles when I was a kid, this is pretty much an extension of that, but much more visible… Maybe some kind of bluetooth transmitter on the bike could activate the turn signals off the existing switch? I dunno. Maybe something a custom bike builder could incorporate into a chopper, for those that like gaudy. “Hey look, my bike is legal, but doesn’t have turn signals” I suppose you could incorporate a brake light into it as well….. Even better for the chopper crowd. “Check it out! I don’t even have a tail light on my bike!” Whatever. LOL.
Jay Allen says
I would like to have a wireless/rechargeable brake/tail light for my helmet
bblix says
I proposed this very thing 2 years ago at my company, using bluetooth to communicate between the turn signal on the bike and the clothing/helmet. While the execution isn’t all that great, some edgy styling would turn this into a very cool system.
Anyway, our sales manager laughed at me…whatever…
bblix says
@thure
EXACTLY! (or “Hey, baby want a ride?”)
Phoebe says
Just to clarify…I don’t think the idea is overkill, I think the way they control it is overkill.
Cavema says
may look good on soft saddle bags
Azzy says
Why stop at LED’s, when you can use eled panels?
http://www.ceelite.com/products/panels.asp
Redman says
I like the idea, but it does look like the next step towards “Tron.”
Bob Nedoma says
@bblix
Make the sign read [SAME 2 U] and see how many new friends you make.
David says
Being more visible is the name of the game in motorcycle safety. Something like this certainly works at night, but I often feel more vulnerable during the day when I just seem to blend into the surroundings.
SwaggeringPagan says
It’s easy to make fun of something when you don’t have any ability to come up with an idea, much less take it from concept to a physical product. While this may not be ‘cool’ enough for some, don’t be surprised if you’re required to use something like this in a few years. Bitch then.
Anything for increased visibility that’s NOT a big Orange vest…..
Simon says
How about if you think turn-signals ruin the look of your bike? Or if you ride a classic bike? Really cool idea!
todd says
If someone doesn’t “see” my turn signals on the bike where’s the leap of understanding that they would “see” these? We’re dealing with a certain mind-set behind the wheel of some cars. It wouldn’t matter what you did. If they don’t bother looking anyway it won’t help. If I wanted something safer I’d drive around in a F350.
Still, the idea is novel and does have a market. Good for them for coming up with new ways to make money. It’s about time I start doing the same.
-todd
Tom Robertson says
Back in the day I thought all those chrome studs on black motorcycle jackets were for safety!
Jets says
I was driving a ’52 Harley before they legislated mandatory helmets in Ontario Canada. Didn’t bother me – I already wore one. The second big deal was the headlight “on” in the daytime. No problem there either.So what is not cool about safety? Perhaps leaving a 30 meter red streak on the road because the semi driver didn’t see your weak vintage lights might be cool to some of you but not to me.
FREEMAN says
When it comes to motorcycles, or even bicycles for that matter, why not implement the signals into the helmet? As mentioned already, a wireless devices can be used to activate the signal. I know this is a safety feature, so why not the helmet?
The Phantom says
Interesting idea. A while back I was thinking about how high-level brakelights are now ubiquitous, to the point where the low, small brake light(s) on a motorcycle is literally below the consciousness of the average cager… this could be the answer, although I think the helmet is a more logical place for a high level brake light.
joe says
Interesting idea, it would work even better if they also incorporated a brake/stop light in the jacket/vest. I can just see it in tight traffic, driver following behind bike looking up at the jacket and not noticing the bikes brake/stop light coming on. Owwwch !
tim says
We’ve had a spate recently of cyclists being killed by idiot car and SUV drivers. The most common scenario is “oh, didnt see you”.
Of course thats what idiot car drivers say when they drive into motorcyclists also
if this is light, cheap, and visible then its a useful thing. Incorporate it into a jacket with D30 armor, and an airbag and we’re good to go.
CaptSlug says
These could easily be made with 1. Two 3V flasher LEDs used to trigger separate 3V relays (one for left, one for right) 2. A rocker or slide switch sewn into the left sleeve 3. A battery box for 2 D cells 4. An array of LEDs wired in parallel and hooked up to the relays.
Shouldn’t cost more than $20 total if you buy the LEDs in bulk from china. An Arduino is overkill for such a project that can be done with a simple circuit.
Roland says
Nice but what do you do when it rain or if you have things to carry in a backpack ?
Moving the turn controls switches to the handlebar would be nice. They could be connected through a magsafe connector for quick release.
geoffls says
New Zealand has over-jackets with controllable LEDs (off, static and flashing) already. Great on rainy nights on the bike.
kim says
Nice idea. The custom bike & chopper purists will love it. Occasonally I’ve ridden with a temporary license plate strapped to the back of my jacket – here in strict Denmark – and the cops never seemed to have a problem with that.
Bigshankhank says
As a cylist, I love this idea. I always ride with a flashing led on the rear of my helmet, in addition to the one on the frame of my bike, just so it is higher and more in the field of vision of drivers. If they can make it stylish (say, make the faux-mohawk helmet band a fiber optic device) to integrate a brake and turn signal into an MC helmet would be fantastic.
Greg says
Cavema…led modules are available to do this on saddle bags already. I was considering doing it on mine. I’m with the rest that this is a good thing. Anything to be seen. I’d say run them down the back of the sleeves. Highly visible with beach bars or ape hangers.
Mark Goddard says
This is not new. There was a kid on TV show “The New Inventors” here in Australia last year with the same idea.
David/cigarrz says
As with everything some want to be the first, some want to blend in and some want to go against the grain no matter what. It certainly is a marketable idea and fashion being what it is I would expect to see lots of variants. It also shows simple ideas have just as much potential for huge profit, probably more, then complex ideas. Of the three friends of mine that have been killed riding two were run over from behind. My riding is always mindful of whats going on behind me.
bblix says
Turns out, more conspicuity isn’t necessarily any better than less conspicuity after you reach a certain threshold. Which is to say, people are either going to recognize you and what you are doing (stopping, turning) or they are not after you have implemented a certain amount lighting. After that, it appears, the additional lights just becomes noise.
PaulN says
Wow, it’s creepy how timing works sometimes. This past weekend I was trolling aorund looking for a jacket that had fiber optic lighting build into it. It’s the same idea that was mentioned in the article, substituting fiber opitcs (or in this case LEDs) for the reflective piping that’s in my textile jacket.
I was thinking it would be very TRON looking. Is it really fashinable? No. Is there a chance that it will help some cager see me and not flatten me like a two-wheeled pancake? Maybe, and that’s good enough to warrant a closer look.
Thanks for the tip!
yes!havesome says
I dreamed up something similar to this a few years ago. I was thinking of a way to eliminate all the lights on a custom bike so it looked more clean when parked, but could still be ridden somewhat legally, needless to say my friends laughed at me.
It would have to be inspected often for shorts, otherwise riding in the rain would give you an entirely nw sensation.
sethwas says
on the back/shoulderblades isn’t a good place for visibility. It can easily be blocked by a top case or by a backpack or if you ride leaning forward like on a sportbike.
The signals need to go on the elbows or tricep area.
They should make a ‘universal’ style retrofit which is an elastic cuff which you can slide up each arm that will light. It could have a headphone style wire that runs down your arm to a switch near the hand. Left for left, right for right. It doesn’t have to be a hard switch with a click, just two contact points (like a sticker of foil near the existing bike controls and a corresponding piece for your thumbs) that when touching light up that way you don’t accidentally leave it on since you can’t see it.
BoxerFanatic says
That is just it…
There is no one place on a rider’s body that stays in the same place.
The helmet changes angle, if a rider’s head is properly on a pivot, and looking around.
The upper back makes a bit more sense, until you talk about a pillion rider, or a backpack being worn, which might block it. Maybe something across the neckline, toward the shoulders might be the most consistently aft facing, except a sport bike rider that might be crouched… although probably not crouched at an intersection, where signals are probably the most meaningful.
Arms are usually moving around,or are usually reached forward, so other than the tops/back of the shoulders, aren’t really in line of sight all the time, either.
it is a good idea, but there will always be caveats… which is usually why signal lighting is bike, mounted, and less mobile, and variably blocked, than the rider’s body.
todd says
I’m more worried this would give riders a false sense of security. Idiot drivers don’t see you because they aren’t looking in your direction – often because they are distracted by something else. I just don’t see how this will keep people from rear ending you, turning across your lane, swerving/merging into you, or t-boning you at an intersection.
Maybe it would be better to strap a yellow strobe to the top of your helmet.
-todd
JustJoe says
I would love to have this on my backpack. I dare say it wouldn’t take more than an hour to bodge a circuit together using an 1/8″ TRS connector, for example, to hook into the already existing bike’s turn signal circuit. I don’t think a handful of LEDs would have enough current draw to affect anything.
trent reker says
i’m reminded of the movie “idiocracy.”
Shawn says
Oh god no. Inflating air bags on Gold wings, signals on your jacket, a strobe light on the helmet. I just want to ride, leave the complicated circus act out of m/cycling.
Kenny says
@ Trent: Hahahah! the same thing occurred to me.
It reminds me of this http://www.lightlanebike.com/
But don’t really understand it, when does a cyclist need to indicate? When trying to cross lanes or roads? Any cyclist worth their salt knows that is idiotic to swerve around moving cars without assessing the position and intent of all the cars in the immediate area, especially in the dark!
And since when did hand signals become taboo, even I sometimes use them, usually when coming off a round-about?
As a cyclist in a city, I would use it but only as a nighttime flashing light, never as a indicator and possibly as a pathetic attempt to impress chicks.
As a motorcyclist, well my bike already has lights, and I’m pretty sure they are visible so I’ll leave at that.
Jean says
Years ago I saw an ad for gloves with lights on the back side, the lights could be turned on and off with contacts on the index and thumb, for some strange reason it didn’t catch on 🙂
Just to go a bit further on this idea, why not put lights on helmets along with a propeller and generator to power the lights, this way, no battery is needed, sensors could even be added in the helmet’s shell to catch brain waves ad turn the proper light on when “thinking” of turning 😉
Duck Mann says
Interesting that they are all wearing jackets, pretending to care about safety, and yet the jackets are pitch black, non-reflective, and not a single one of them is wearing a helmet.
*rolleyes*
FREEMAN says
@ Duck Mann: all the more reason the device should be built into the helmet.
Todd8080 says
Here’s how you market this idea:
http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr86/Todd8080/News%20Photos%20VII/th_SOA_Signals.gif
Joe says
There’s also a guy who has this technology already, but if they sell it then it’s probably expensive (similar jackets with basic LED’s sell for $600+ from their website). If you’re interested in buying it right now I’d suggest contacting http://www.jfmagic.com/
How much would you expect to pay for something like this? I ask because I’m an electrical engineering major and decided to make this for myself. If there’s enough interest and it’s worth enough then I might be willing to make a kit for others as well.
todd says
Joe, just be careful no one already has a patent on this. You’d hate to have to pay a huge royalty settlement.
-todd
Joe says
Todd, that’s an astute observation. There is a patent that applies to certain implementations of this for Motorcycle Jackets. So far as I can tell my exact design is not limited by this patent.
The specific patents that apply as far as I can tell are 6538567 and 4602191. 6538567 applies to turn signals on motorcycle jackets with the signals wired directly to the bike via a tether connector. 4602191 applies to LED’s used for advertising purposes in clothing (but will expire next year as far as I can tell).
The reality is that if I find a cheap method of production and a company that wants to license this tech then I may pursue it.
B Wooldridge says
Thanks for the free advertisement ,,, see U.S.Pat # 7,077,538B2,,,,Utility Pat. seems like NO ONE has talked ta me about this,,,, my Pat is good for 23 yrs