Japanese smart motorcycle helmet maker CrossHelmet has integrated British navigation platform what3words into its augmented reality (AR) heads up display (HUD), it was announced last week.
The unique joint venture will allow cyclists to use voice-activited commands to navigate to a precise location in the world without the need for street addresses.
The London-based firm has reshaped navigation by dividing the entire globe into 57 trillion, 3×3 metre squares marked with a unique three-word address, offering CrossHelmet owners access to global positions with just a few taps and voice commands.
Users can long-press their helmet’s control panel buttons, which activate what3words voice commands and launch navigation instructions to the specific location to avoid conflicting street addresses.
Such technologies are vital for motorcyclists, who rely on safety and quick reaction times to ride their vehicles in traffic or on long tours. what3words’ navigation system allows cyclists to find beaches, hiking trails, and other specific locations without the need for addresses.
Numerous guidebooks, hotels, automakers, ride sharing apps and others have begun adopting the system in a bid to increase navigational accuracy and improve driver safety.
Arata Oono, Chief Executive and Founder for CrossHelmet, said,
“Motorcycles have evolved faster than helmets have. CrossHelmet brings state of the art technology to a safety staple that has remained largely the same over the years. And by adding what3words voice entry to our helmets, we are continuing to revolutionise the riding experience”
Chris Sheldrick, Chief Executive and Co-founder of what3words, added it was “crucial” for motorcyclists to navigate with “ease and precision.”
Explaining further on the partnership, Mr Sheldrick continued, stating,
“CrossHelmet’s next generation helmets are designed to transform the riding experience, which can be taken to another dimension with simple and straightforward navigation. Users can now ride to their exact destination by simply speaking the three words of their what3words address”
Business Case for AR-Powered Navigation Systems
Mr Oono created CrossHelmet in 2012, which is currently available in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany, to promote safety among cyclists with leading tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), cameras, sensors, voice controls, ambient noise reduction, and 360-degree HUD views.
Mr Sheldrick co-founded what3words in 2013 to allow travellers to find precise locations across the world without the need to update or work online, while also correcting voice input to avoid errors.
The platform is available for Android and iOS devices and can navigate in more than 45 million languages. Numerous partners such as Triumph Motorcycles, Mercedes-Benz, the Automotive Association (AA), Premier Inn, emergency services, and others have adopted the platform.
The news comes as several key automakers tap into AR glass makers for auto HUDs, and firms such as Germany’s Infineon begin developing components in a bid to boost the growing AR auto industry.
Automakers have made a gradual shift to incorporating such smart systems as the demand for autonomous driving, HUDs, and future safety systems rises among vehicles of all price ranges.
