G.P.S is a great idea, maybe a simple arrow to tell you which way you have to go for your predetermined destination with maybe how far to your next waypoint
This concept could really benefit from the integration of a smart phone as the controller and data source. The possibilities for this idea are endless. Brilliant! Great work!
Awesome idea Matt! Hope to see the final product soon. I would also like to commend you on your videos. I have watched a few and you always explain yourself and your ideas well. Very interesting and without all the filler!
Almost. A fixie is a fixed wheel single speed bike. Meaning that if you stop pedalling, the rear wheel immediately stops. He clearly has a freewheel at the back, meaning that if he stops pedaling, the rear wheel continues to turn. Ps. Love the light idea @mrichardson23, that's a brilliant use of the Pi!
It may be on the expensive side, but for GPS I found the u-blox very easy to implement with an active antenna! I like this idea very much and hope to see it expand furher!
Very cool. I'm another person endorsing the possibility of GPS with literal turn by turn directions projected in front of you, possibly with a map and/or arrows to direct you. I'm excited to see where you take this from here.
Maybe you could integrate a power source (rechargeable batt) that is driven by the riding/peddling so projector and systems can always be operational. Not sure if the power demands would be too high for casual riding... just a thought!
Great start. My dream version would be a light with bluetooth to connect to a smartphone for display customization. besides the standard hud options maybe this could also display a turn signal visible for cars coming up from behind. I’d back something like this on kickstarter.
GPS would be great but i just thought of a much lower power option, that would be really useful while exploring a city on bike. If you got a compass sensor (i believe these are small, cheap and low power) and somehow fed that data into the Pi, then you'd be able to render a real time north-south arrow over the top of your speedometer, or any other application you've come up with. It'd be a really helpful augmentation.
Great project. As an endurance cyclist I would like to see speed, cadence and heart rate as a minimum. Forget GPS for now as, in my experience, the GPS signal comes and goes depending on where you're riding. Also if you only projected numbers it might be better. Cool idea, very cool!
nice project. have you thought about a led light with some tranparent switching thing in front of it? there are materials that change transparency by a electric signal. that would need less power than a projector.
Great idea, loved your presentation of what you worked on, I'd also love to see an update on this, I'm thinking about adding something similar to my vintage motorcycle. I can't believe how good only 30 lumens looks in the city. Would love to see directions, distance to turn...
Its a great mod, only thing we can use it only at night time, perhaps you could use a small LCD screen with the projector and use a LRD, that will switch the display between LCD screen and the projector according to ambient light
Track bikes for velodrome racing are almost exclusively fixed gear, even today, along with bikes in sports like bike polo. And there are even crazy examples of fixed wheel use, for example in the Tour de France in the early 1900s!
What about aiming the projector to a piece of plexiglass. Maybe you could make it look like a HUD that can be found on fighter jets. I am not sure if it would help much in the daylight, but I am sure it's worth a try.
Why not using the very same motion to charge the battery? I remember when I was little bikes used to have those little wheels rolling with the front wheel to generate electricity for the headlight. Of course, it won't be a replacement of the battery and the need to plug it for some charge, but it could make it last longer, right?
Looks like you're using a pi model B in the video. Have you considered the model A (increased battery life)? Also, could you connect to a smartphone (bluetooth/wifi maybe) and use its sensors? Seems like that might make implementing gps easier, for instance.
Makes sense. Of course, you could also plug the sd-card into a computer to work on the code, you just need a linux machine to access the correct partition. Then again that might make testing new code more of a hassle. Yeah sticking with the model B , at leat throughout development, might be easiest.
Yes, a model A would be much better for this. I just don't have one yet and while I'm still working on the project's code, I like to be able to SSH into it and make changes from my laptop. It's kind of weird to plug the bike into the network and log into it!
Why would you stare at it? Do you stare at your speedo or GPS now? The user would glance at it when they wanted to. This crates a nice big, visible display without the rider having to have a large screen attached to their handlebars.
So this needs to be a functional headlight too. Here in Chicago it legally needs to be visible from 500 feet away. I imagine there are tradeoffs of brightness vs battery life. Have you done any of that testing? Oh, and it will need to be secured too.
Add hand gesture mouse to control the map and as input device. Also some useful application for people in motorcycles, wheelchairs etc. This could be put in helmets with added headphones and voice control. Put it in kickstart. good luck.
Some ideas : Dynamo to charge the pico projector battery pack, a 'push-to-activate' type button where your bike bell should be, so that the projector isn't on all the time, rather than when you just push it, but it's updating values all the time so you get the latest speed when you press it.
Do you think it would be more space saving to mount... You know those digital clock projectors that project what looks like an LED? One of those in place of the projector for optimum battery use? Seems like it might be easier to program as well
Sorry if it's been asked already, but what projector did you use? I've got a Raspberry Pi and I've love to have the same display output (but with significantly less exercise) Also, I LOVED the video, favorited, and I can't wait for more! This is what UA-cam is all about :D
I would integrate a GPS into it and have it display where you are as well as the speed. Maybe even have it give you turn by turn directions -- just a thought! Awesome project!
Can somebody explain why that projection looks like in front of you in the air and not on the ground, is it some kind of feature of particular projector or effect?
Matt, I really like what you're doing with this project. I think it is really sweet and would like to try it out myself. I haven't had a whole ton of time to get my hands dirty with the Pi yet, but I would love to try something like this out! Man, that display looked great while you were riding! Do you have your source code hosted anywhere? Also, any idea how visible the projector will be in broad daylight?
It would be great if you can get it into a bottle shape so it could go into the cage -- there are also some great power supplies for bike lights that do this, which you might be able to use as a power source.
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but in the future, could this be interfaced with health sensors? That would be cool if it could display things like heart rate for fitness enthusiasts. I played with a heart rate sensor once, but it was all sent to a special wristwatch. It was hard to read while running or biking. Having a larger display from something like this would be cool.
great job! can't wait for you to complete this project and showing us the results! GPS would be awesome,.. it could literally show you the way on the streets using google maps navigation software, if you can manage it, to work on the PI, otherwise try and use an android minicomputer like the pi, there are tons out there! greets from austria! mike
This is incredibly cool. What a great idea! I would be worried about getting pulled over by the cops though. In Illinois you can't have lights shining from your car other than head and taillights. Maybe the laws are different in NYC?
Connect it to Strava so you can virtually race someone (or yourself) in real time. The display would say you are 12 seconds ahead or 8 seconds behind, etc.
This opens so many possibilites. You could have a gps displaying a navigation line that goes a couple of meters forward and you can just follow the line.
high contrast map + GPS! see your cross streets without phone use a bluetooth conmection with a phone app to set a destination or mark a point looks fun!
Stick a dynamo generator and a regulator circuit and encase it possibly in a Tupperware box... also it might be possible to try and simply use a speedometer circuit and a back projected LCD ( I am thinking of a simple clock light projection hack or something). Either way it looks like a winner for a startup gadget...
Isn't there a device that can provide energy to the projector due to the rotation of the wheel? I have a Japanese bike that has a headlight powered by the front wheel. Perhaps that could recharge the battery when moving and when idle, the battery power kicks in.
I would agree, but I'm not attempting to make a functional headlight. There's actually some thinking behind the name. If I didn't call it a headlight, it makes it harder to describe what it is. Also, the main the complaint would be, "Oh it only works at night? Lame."
This may sound like a stupid question, but could you power the projector and Raspberry Pi using a Dynamo? and just have the battery pack for extra power?
Nice. If it was just a light, it would be crap and waste of time and money. But projecting the speed is pretty cool :) You could project movies while you ride, or as someone said below me, navigation/route!
Awesome man I would totally use this! I know people mentioned this before but you should look into safe cycling. You're kinda all over the place so maybe you haven't been riding long. Don't bother veering in and out of parking lanes, drivers wont know what you're doing and it's more dangerous than if you just stay in the one lane. Don't worry about them they'll get where there going. Just mentioning this because I don't want you to die before you make a mil :)
will this only work at night or is it still visible in the day time? could you add augmented reality games like Pacman only the pills line the route you wish to take? it has potential but there are drawbacks like visibility. could you change it from a number display to say the stars from star trek and the faster you went the faster they would glide until warp speed lol. i know it would make me want to ride faster.
do you recommend a hall effect sensor? trying to decide between that and a reed switch, heard hall effect has debugging problems but reed switch is more delicate.
Really overkill in terms of complexity, you could just use a stock Speedo. But why would you do that? This is WAY more awesome! Great work, if I spent more time on my bike I would throw one of these on there in a heartbeat.
perhaps narrow the diameter of the projected circle at higher speed to have a better view further before you - and then closer again when you're slowng down to take a turn? A servo on the projectorlens could do it I guess. Could the Raspberry Pi point the light to where you have to go? (think google street view ;) )
Biggest problem is that it is not a steady flow of energy, he would need some sort of battery that would constantly supply the projector with energy and be refilled by the wheel.
I love the idea .. However I was thinking alongside a dual power supply with switching modes between solar and battery powered to save the system power that should so the trick at least I will be implementing something like this
Only issue with this is that it would increase peddle resistance taking more effort. If it worked though, at the very least it would increase battery time, even if you still needed to charge it conventionally.
Suggested improvements: 1) Change angle of projection to the level of drivers' window 2) Replace speed readout with thank-you's, swears, and handy hints like 'USE YOUR FLIPPING INDICATORS!!!'
You could use hood mounted leds to indicate the vehicle speed. People would probably be more observant of the speed limit if they knew that any ordinary camera could be used to record them speeding. And I could live my childhood dream of owning a car like Kit from Night Rider.
Maybe have another model with a small screen mounted to the handlebars to display your speed, rather than just the projector, so that you can still use it during the day.
I know this is a prototype, but my imagination is running wild with the applications of what you just demonstrated. GPS, speedometer, gear-display, odometer, distance travelled...Fuel-tank, facebook o_o Perhaps too pointless toward the end, but this is very innovative and I'm excited (and expectant) for an awesome future for this technology.
wouldn't it be easier to make an app that said your speed with a map and then just plug it into the projector. It would leave room for customization and other functionality. I watched with sound off cause I'm listening to David Bowie so I'm not sure if you covered this or not. but awesome project!
I think its a good idea, but u can project in to glass or helmet, when u r on motobike also. Wirelessly.Safe. Plus control of charging of batteries/Ev/ gps nav. Good work.
Can't you just appreciate the concept and this gentleman's achievement?
Open source + an open medium for getting ideas across (UA-cam) and you get things like this. Creativity at it's best.
G.P.S is a great idea, maybe a simple arrow to tell you which way you have to go for your predetermined destination with maybe how far to your next waypoint
This concept could really benefit from the integration of a smart phone as the controller and data source. The possibilities for this idea are endless. Brilliant! Great work!
Awesome idea Matt! Hope to see the final product soon. I would also like to commend you on your videos. I have watched a few and you always explain yourself and your ideas well. Very interesting and without all the filler!
Almost. A fixie is a fixed wheel single speed bike. Meaning that if you stop pedalling, the rear wheel immediately stops.
He clearly has a freewheel at the back, meaning that if he stops pedaling, the rear wheel continues to turn.
Ps. Love the light idea @mrichardson23, that's a brilliant use of the Pi!
It may be on the expensive side, but for GPS I found the u-blox very easy to implement with an active antenna! I like this idea very much and hope to see it expand furher!
Wow, Matt! What an awesome project, and really a great idea to do something new with the head beam on the bike!
Very cool. I'm another person endorsing the possibility of GPS with literal turn by turn directions projected in front of you, possibly with a map and/or arrows to direct you. I'm excited to see where you take this from here.
Maybe you could integrate a power source (rechargeable batt) that is driven by the riding/peddling so projector and systems can always be operational. Not sure if the power demands would be too high for casual riding... just a thought!
So awesome! Matt Richardson, founder of Dynamic Bike Headlight!
This dude's going to make some money with this. Very nice work, man! Very enterprising!
Great start. My dream version would be a light with bluetooth to connect to a smartphone for display customization. besides the standard hud options maybe this could also display a turn signal visible for cars coming up from behind. I’d back something like this on kickstarter.
GPS would be great but i just thought of a much lower power option, that would be really useful while exploring a city on bike. If you got a compass sensor (i believe these are small, cheap and low power) and somehow fed that data into the Pi, then you'd be able to render a real time north-south arrow over the top of your speedometer, or any other application you've come up with. It'd be a really helpful augmentation.
Thanks! No response about Glass yet. I'm sure they have tons of applicants. I don't have my hopes up, since there's are many who want it!
Hey man this thing is awesome. Don't listen to haters and I would encourage you to take this as far as you can!
Another good reason for an enclosure! I might see if I can design and 3D print one...
Great project. As an endurance cyclist I would like to see speed, cadence and heart rate as a minimum. Forget GPS for now as, in my experience, the GPS signal comes and goes depending on where you're riding. Also if you only projected numbers it might be better. Cool idea, very cool!
nice project. have you thought about a led light with some tranparent switching thing in front of it? there are materials that change transparency by a electric signal. that would need less power than a projector.
This is amazing and has so much potential! Great work!
Great idea, loved your presentation of what you worked on, I'd also love to see an update on this, I'm thinking about adding something similar to my vintage motorcycle. I can't believe how good only 30 lumens looks in the city. Would love to see directions, distance to turn...
Its a great mod, only thing we can use it only at night time, perhaps you could use a small LCD screen with the projector and use a LRD, that will switch the display between LCD screen and the projector according to ambient light
With GPS, the Pi and local maps on the Sd Card you could build a turn by turn navigationssystem for your bicycle!
Track bikes for velodrome racing are almost exclusively fixed gear, even today, along with bikes in sports like bike polo. And there are even crazy examples of fixed wheel use, for example in the Tour de France in the early 1900s!
What about aiming the projector to a piece of plexiglass. Maybe you could make it look like a HUD that can be found on fighter jets. I am not sure if it would help much in the daylight, but I am sure it's worth a try.
Great innovative idea, but I wonder whether looking at speed wasnt distracting you while driving ?
Why not using the very same motion to charge the battery? I remember when I was little bikes used to have those little wheels rolling with the front wheel to generate electricity for the headlight. Of course, it won't be a replacement of the battery and the need to plug it for some charge, but it could make it last longer, right?
Looks like you're using a pi model B in the video. Have you considered the model A (increased battery life)? Also, could you connect to a smartphone (bluetooth/wifi maybe) and use its sensors? Seems like that might make implementing gps easier, for instance.
Makes sense. Of course, you could also plug the sd-card into a computer to work on the code, you just need a linux machine to access the correct partition. Then again that might make testing new code more of a hassle. Yeah sticking with the model B , at leat throughout development, might be easiest.
I'd put up a generator attached to the wheels, to generate and store electricity as I move along..
Yes, a model A would be much better for this. I just don't have one yet and while I'm still working on the project's code, I like to be able to SSH into it and make changes from my laptop. It's kind of weird to plug the bike into the network and log into it!
Can you place a tiny camera in the back wired to the projector? This way you can see who's approaching behind you.
Why would you stare at it? Do you stare at your speedo or GPS now? The user would glance at it when they wanted to. This crates a nice big, visible display without the rider having to have a large screen attached to their handlebars.
So this needs to be a functional headlight too. Here in Chicago it legally needs to be visible from 500 feet away. I imagine there are tradeoffs of brightness vs battery life. Have you done any of that testing?
Oh, and it will need to be secured too.
Add hand gesture mouse to control the map and as input device. Also some useful application for people in motorcycles, wheelchairs etc. This could be put in helmets with added headphones and voice control. Put it in kickstart.
good luck.
Some ideas : Dynamo to charge the pico projector battery pack, a 'push-to-activate' type button where your bike bell should be, so that the projector isn't on all the time, rather than when you just push it, but it's updating values all the time so you get the latest speed when you press it.
Do you think it would be more space saving to mount... You know those digital clock projectors that project what looks like an LED? One of those in place of the projector for optimum battery use? Seems like it might be easier to program as well
Sorry if it's been asked already, but what projector did you use? I've got a Raspberry Pi and I've love to have the same display output (but with significantly less exercise)
Also, I LOVED the video, favorited, and I can't wait for more! This is what UA-cam is all about :D
I would integrate a GPS into it and have it display where you are as well as the speed. Maybe even have it give you turn by turn directions -- just a thought! Awesome project!
Can somebody explain why that projection looks like in front of you in the air and not on the ground, is it some kind of feature of particular projector or effect?
It's just that the angle it was filmed closely matches the angle of the projection.
Matt, I really like what you're doing with this project. I think it is really sweet and would like to try it out myself. I haven't had a whole ton of time to get my hands dirty with the Pi yet, but I would love to try something like this out! Man, that display looked great while you were riding! Do you have your source code hosted anywhere? Also, any idea how visible the projector will be in broad daylight?
It would be great if you can get it into a bottle shape so it could go into the cage -- there are also some great power supplies for bike lights that do this, which you might be able to use as a power source.
You should use pedal power - try coupling that with something like EcoXPower dyanamo (which charges a phone and head&tail lights) or make your own.
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but in the future, could this be interfaced with health sensors? That would be cool if it could display things like heart rate for fitness enthusiasts. I played with a heart rate sensor once, but it was all sent to a special wristwatch. It was hard to read while running or biking. Having a larger display from something like this would be cool.
great job! can't wait for you to complete this project and showing us the results! GPS would be awesome,.. it could literally show you the way on the streets using google maps navigation software, if you can manage it, to work on the PI, otherwise try and use an android minicomputer like the pi, there are tons out there! greets from austria! mike
Does the beam from the projector actually illuminates your path or is it just a bright circle in front of you?
This is incredibly cool. What a great idea! I would be worried about getting pulled over by the cops though. In Illinois you can't have lights shining from your car other than head and taillights. Maybe the laws are different in NYC?
Connect it to Strava so you can virtually race someone (or yourself) in real time. The display would say you are 12 seconds ahead or 8 seconds behind, etc.
This opens so many possibilites. You could have a gps displaying a navigation line that goes a couple of meters forward and you can just follow the line.
Nice work man! Hope to see it around town.
high contrast map + GPS! see your cross streets without phone use a bluetooth conmection with a phone app to set a destination or mark a point looks fun!
Excellent use of the Raspberry Pi computer. The projected image probably won't be visible during the day though. Compliments from me sir.
Stick a dynamo generator and a regulator circuit and encase it possibly in a Tupperware box... also it might be possible to try and simply use a speedometer circuit and a back projected LCD ( I am thinking of a simple clock light projection hack or something). Either way it looks like a winner for a startup gadget...
Isn't there a device that can provide energy to the projector due to the rotation of the wheel? I have a Japanese bike that has a headlight powered by the front wheel. Perhaps that could recharge the battery when moving and when idle, the battery power kicks in.
wouldn't laser display be better instead of project? Less battery draining for example? Or maybe it could be possible to use a dynamo to power it up?
I would agree, but I'm not attempting to make a functional headlight. There's actually some thinking behind the name. If I didn't call it a headlight, it makes it harder to describe what it is. Also, the main the complaint would be, "Oh it only works at night? Lame."
Awesome! How does it fair during daylight though?
This may sound like a stupid question, but could you power the projector and Raspberry Pi using a Dynamo? and just have the battery pack for extra power?
Right now (18-3) they're out of stock on element 14, but not on RS. Links on the raspberry site.
Innovative as hell as a daily rider I would love to have this if you open source it that would be ever better so i can make my own.
Nice. If it was just a light, it would be crap and waste of time and money. But projecting the speed is pretty cool :) You could project movies while you ride, or as someone said below me, navigation/route!
Awesome man I would totally use this!
I know people mentioned this before but you should look into safe cycling. You're kinda all over the place so maybe you haven't been riding long. Don't bother veering in and out of parking lanes, drivers wont know what you're doing and it's more dangerous than if you just stay in the one lane. Don't worry about them they'll get where there going. Just mentioning this because I don't want you to die before you make a mil :)
will this only work at night or is it still visible in the day time?
could you add augmented reality games like Pacman only the pills line the route you wish to take? it has potential but there are drawbacks like visibility. could you change it from a number display to say the stars from star trek and the faster you went the faster they would glide until warp speed lol. i know it would make me want to ride faster.
Not sure what that's supposed to mean, but it's actually just a single-speed, not a fixie.
would be great if it could project the route u need to take as you cycle
do you recommend a hall effect sensor? trying to decide between that and a reed switch, heard hall effect has debugging problems but reed switch is more delicate.
You could add a camera and display a video feed of what's happening behind you.
Really overkill in terms of complexity, you could just use a stock Speedo. But why would you do that? This is WAY more awesome! Great work, if I spent more time on my bike I would throw one of these on there in a heartbeat.
Its now 2015, can you please make a video on how to make this? you got one more subscriber, i want to make this too.
perhaps narrow the diameter of the projected circle at higher speed to have a better view further before you - and then closer again when you're slowng down to take a turn?
A servo on the projectorlens could do it I guess.
Could the Raspberry Pi point the light to where you have to go? (think google street view ;) )
Could you some how charge the battery using the kinetic energy from the bike? Perhaps through induction?
Biggest problem is that it is not a steady flow of energy, he would need some sort of battery that would constantly supply the projector with energy and be refilled by the wheel.
I love the idea .. However I was thinking alongside a dual power supply with switching modes between solar and battery powered to save the system power that should so the trick at least I will be implementing something like this
Could you include navigation clues from your phone?
Pretty much a heads up display. This could be used for a lot of things like GPS navigation etc...
I think the point of it is the headlight and the speedometer is an added benefit, not the other way around.
Only issue with this is that it would increase peddle resistance taking more effort. If it worked though, at the very least it would increase battery time, even if you still needed to charge it conventionally.
Suggested improvements:
1) Change angle of projection to the level of drivers' window
2) Replace speed readout with thank-you's, swears, and handy hints like 'USE YOUR FLIPPING INDICATORS!!!'
You could use hood mounted leds to indicate the vehicle speed. People would probably be more observant of the speed limit if they knew that any ordinary camera could be used to record them speeding. And I could live my childhood dream of owning a car like Kit from Night Rider.
Thanks! I have an Odroid I could try this out with!
Maybe have another model with a small screen mounted to the handlebars to display your speed, rather than just the projector, so that you can still use it during the day.
What about using lasers instead. so you can use it in daylight aswell
You should try and power everything off of the bike as you use it. Might be difficult, but would be worth it.
I know this is a prototype, but my imagination is running wild with the applications of what you just demonstrated.
GPS, speedometer, gear-display, odometer, distance travelled...Fuel-tank, facebook o_o
Perhaps too pointless toward the end, but this is very innovative and I'm excited (and expectant) for an awesome future for this technology.
wouldn't it be easier to make an app that said your speed with a map and then just plug it into the projector. It would leave room for customization and other functionality. I watched with sound off cause I'm listening to David Bowie so I'm not sure if you covered this or not. but awesome project!
Thanks for showing this at SXSW with Bike Hugger.
you can use a arduino and gps and a big servo to make the cycle automatic
A line graph that displays the speeding up of the bike
What kind of module you used for the reading of the speed?
So you can only tell your speed when it's night time?
How about showing images of camera that is installed like rear mirror?
Could you also make it wireless to a pair of google glasses and make a blind spot detector?
It would be really cool If you can add gps and gprs module within and show google map navigation upper head.
A dynamo!
a softwar which shows the actuall position on a minimap with gps would be fantastic !!!
you mean like bicycle lights generally do?
It's an Optoma PK320.
I think its a good idea, but u can project in to glass or helmet, when u r on motobike also. Wirelessly.Safe. Plus control of charging of batteries/Ev/ gps nav.
Good work.
Couldn't you use some way of the bike creating power for it instead of batteries?
Wait! Using an actual projector for a headlight is genuinely genius!