Cyclists may soon benefit from fighter pilot technology

[Cal Jeffrey]

Israeli company Elbit Systems developed a set of goggles that allows cyclists to track all of their metrics without taking their eyes off the road. Elbit is a company that specializes in making drones and other military technology, but its subsidiary, Everysight is in charge of this product aimed at the civilian cycling community.

The Raptor smartglasses, which look a lot like the stylish shades that are already prevalent in cycling, were developed using technology similar to that used by fighter pilots and pack a ton of functionality. As mentioned, the glasses can track metrics such as your heart rate, calories burned, time and distance measurements, cornering angle, and of course, speed.

However, the glasses are not limited to just tracking metrics. According to Bloomberg, the Raptor can provide a map overlay and can even receive notifications, text messages, and calls from your smartphone.

Currently, only about 10 percent of Elbit Systems revenue comes from the commercial market, but it is trying to grow its civilian divisions. Its primary strategy for retail growth is to adapt its military applications for commercial use. Wearables are one area that it is interested in focusing on, but autonomous vehicles are also of investment of the Israeli conglomerate.

Google already tried and failed at eye-wearables with its doomed Google Glass. Despite that failure, Everysight is confident that its Raptor smart glasses will be successful. A spokesperson for the company told Bloomberg that part of the reason that they feel they will do better than Google Glass is due to the company’s decades of experience and research in “vision systems and augmented reality.”

The other part of the equation for success is that where Glass tried to be an all in one, providing things that people just did not want or need in eyewear, Everysight is focused on a highly functional product for a very specific market. While the glasses will provide some functionality beyond a cyclists concerns, those are mostly secondary to the primary focus.

Elbit Systems tried venturing into the consumer market in the past with mixed results. Its first foray was in manufacturing televisions in 1992, but it failed miserably and ceased production after only two years. After that, the company decided to only focus on developing commercial products that were based on technology it had already developed. So in 2008, it produced “an intrabody navigation system,” called MediGuide, which St. Jude Medical purchased for $283 million.

Regardless of how the Raptor smartglasses do, Elbit is not afraid of failure.

“This is not the core activity of the company,” Elbit Systems CEO Bezhalel Machlis said. “Everysight could be divested at the appropriate time.”

There is no word when the glasses will be available for purchase. However, they are currently in the testing phase so it should not be too long. If you are interested in joining the "Test Pilot Program" or would like to receive progress updates, sign up at Everysight's website.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/69175-cyclists-may-soon-benefit-fighter-pilot-technology.html

 

[Raoul Duke]

These kinds of things have great potential. Can't say I like these as shown in the video. They say they don't have to take their eyes off of the road, but I wonder if you can keep your eyes focused on the road and take in the info, plus you have to attend to the data, meaning you are not attending to the road (where attention is focused, we are very poor at multitasking).
I don't know if it is still around, but I recall a Cadillac that had an infrared view that appeared low on the windshield. At low light it would allow the driver to see pedestrians/cyclists or animals on the side of the road very easily (much greater contrast) so hopefully you avoid hitting pedestrians or that deer/moose/elk that might jump out onto the road.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

These kinds of things have great potential. Can't say I like these as shown in the video. They say they don't have to take their eyes off of the road, but I wonder if you can keep your eyes focused on the road and take in the info, plus you have to attend to the data, meaning you are not attending to the road (where attention is focused, we are very poor at multitasking).

Well like the cycling instructor said, it's a whole lot better than looking down at the cycling computer on your wrist.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

These kinds of things have great potential. Can't say I like these as shown in the video. They say they don't have to take their eyes off of the road, but I wonder if you can keep your eyes focused on the road and take in the info, plus you have to attend to the data, meaning you are not attending to the road (where attention is focused, we are very poor at multitasking).

Well like the cycling instructor said, it's a whole lot better than looking down at the cycling computer on your wrist.

Being a cyclist myself, I could really go for this although never having ever tried out this type of tech, I don't know how distracting the info will be but it can't be any worse than what I do now. I seem to have the bad habit of trying to study the data on my bicycle computer at the worst possible times. Using this, my cycling computer and my fitness tracker simultaneously, I think I'll be overwhelmed... especially when each device shows conflicting data. I've often found that just using the good old "go by the feel of seat of your pants" is often the best and most accurate.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Too bad it doesn't have lane sensing tech as well, to help guide some cyclists back into their damn lane. Grr

As for the tech, this could be beneficial to all drivers/riders, really. As long as the data isn't presented right in the middle of your view it should be a lot safer than constantly looking at a display on your handle bar, which by the way you have to refocus for.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

Being a cyclist myself, I could really go for this although never having ever tried out this type of tech, I don't know how distracting the info will be but it can't be any worse than what I do now. I seem to have the bad habit of trying to study the data on my bicycle computer at the worst possible times. Using this, my cycling computer and my fitness tracker simultaneously, I think I'll be overwhelmed... especially when each device shows conflicting data. I've often found that just using the good old "go by the feel of seat of your pants" is often the best and most accurate.

I kind of suspect that they will build in some type of customization to the HUD, so you only get what you want or can handle. But who really knows. Be worth getting in on the pilot program. Also, think about this: Fighter pilots use something quite similar doing Mach 2. I imagine you would become accustomed to the HUD after not too long.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

Too bad it doesn't have lane sensing tech as well, to help guide some cyclists back into their damn lane. Grr

As for the tech, this could be beneficial to all drivers/riders, really. As long as the data isn't presented right in the middle of your view it should be a lot safer than constantly looking at a display on your handle bar, which by the way you have to refocus for.

I didn't report it in the article because I couldn't confirm it, it has been insinuated that it does have something like lane detection. It is part of the map overlay function. Everysight describes it like this: "Confidently explore on-and off-road routes with an unobtrusive map projection overlay."

 

[p51d007]

I try to give those on cycles PLENTY OF ROOM, since one little unseen pothole could have them
in my path, but what ticks me off are the ones that appear to be "entitled" to disobeying the
traffic laws. Running stop signs/lights, holding up traffic by riding in the passing lane, things
like that. I don't have a problem sharing the road, but both automobiles and cyclist should obey
the traffic laws a bit better.