BMW has brought the technology of the F-35 Joint-Strike-Force fighter and an F-22 Raptor to the mainstream motoring with their latest augmented reality based helmets in partnership with DigiLens. You have seen plenty of Sci-Fi and action movies using this kind of technology to make driving faster, more efficient and safe. The drivers now won’t have to look essentially down on the gauges to find out vital bits of information about their ride like speed, temperature and amount of fuel remaining. This is particularly disturbing for motorbike enthusiasts as they are in relatively more danger than car drivers. That is why BMW decided to release the new tech on helmets instead of making an augmented reality based windscreen.
Just like Jarvis can relay video to the Iron Man, the software inside this amazing helmet can relay fuel levels, RPMs and video feed from rear and front mounted cameras. It is more or less like the Google Glass for motorists. By showing essential information about the motorcycle and video feed on the screen, the technology can make the whole ordeal of driving and navigating easy. It is basically a compact version of the tech available in latest fighter and transport aircraft made by DigiLens’ partner firm, Rockwell Collins. They are currently in use in Embraer Legacy 500 and 600 planes. The technology consists of thin strips that remain connected to the helmet magnetically and thus, remain in place even in the most bumpiest rides. DigiLens founder named Jonathon Walden says that the display is so lightweight that the wearer won’t know the difference between wearing it and not wearing it while driving. He also claims that it doesn’t block the line of vision and can be readily incorporated into helmets. So, it might not be that far away into the future that we see it on roads.
Previously, the introduction of this technology had hit several snags including security and privacy risks similarly associated with the Google Glass project that has been sidelined by Google. BMW is the first company to acquire rights to the DigiLens technology and has already made glasses based on this technology called MINI vision glasses that were first shown in the Auto Shanghai show in China in April 2015. So, it has a competitive edge over its rivals in this cutting-edge business. It can eventually replace the old gauges on your bike with ease, and you will have your own equivalent of Batbike within a few years. So, lets keep our fingers crossed for further development in this regard.