If you Google the meaning of a helmet, you’ll find out it’s pretty simple. And I quote: “a hard or padded protective hat, various types of which are worn by soldiers, police officers, firefighters, motorcyclists, athletes, and others.”
So yeah, it’s essentially a hat designed to keep your noggin in one piece should anything happen to you. But over the years, the definition of the humble old helmet has changed quite a bit. And nowhere is this more true than in the world of motorcycle helmets.
You see, helmets of today have transformed into full-on smart devices, complete with communication capabilities, connectivity features, and yes, even artificial intelligence.
We’ve talked about quite a few of these in the past such as the Intelligent Cranium Helmets (ICH) project that promises features straight out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—you know, rearview cameras, heads-up displays, blind-spot detection, and even AI-powered hazard warnings.
Then there’s Shoei’s Opticson heads-up display tech, which hoped to bring fighter-jet-style navigation and speed info into a rider’s field of view. Cool? Definitely. Practical? Well, maybe not for everyone, as integrating HUDs into motorcycle helmets has all but managed to elude the mainstream.
So, where does all this leave us today? Well, another player hopes to make it big in the whole smart helmet game. It’s a company called LIVALL, with its MC1 Pro Carbon Fiber Smart Helmet.
LIVALL is taking a different approach when it comes to its smart helmet. The MC1 is simpler than many other innovations that have popped up recently. Judging from the info on its website, it seems like it’s geared towards refining what already works.
It sports a built-in front-facing dashcam with a 120-degree field of view. This allows riders to capture videos of their rides without needing to mount an external action camera like a GoPro or Insta360. At the rear, the MC1 gets so-called “smart lighting” including brake lights that alert drivers of higher vehicles of the motorcycle rider’s intentions of slowing down. Lastly, the MC1 also has a fall detection system that can send an SOS alert with GPS information to emergency contacts.
LIVALL’s MC1 also comes with built-in communication in the form of a Bluetooth intercom that can support up to five riders with a 1.2-kilometer (0.7-mile) range. It's not quite as capable as the mesh systems of Cardo and Sena, but hey, the MC1 also features a walkie-talkie function allowing for longer-distance group communication.
So clearly, the MC1 comes with features we already find in other so-called smart helmets. It’s just that the way it’s been packaged here just looks much more streamlined and not excessively complex. This just makes it look like a much more viable option for a wider range of riders—or at least, that’s the way I see it.
With all that being said, it’s clear that helmets like the MC1 are sort of a 'jack of all trades, master of none' type of deal. The MC1 gets a bunch of equipment, but it's also equipment that’s really just so-so when compared to other standalone tech. I mean, its Bluetooth intercom is nowhere near as capable as those of Cardo and Sena, and its 1080p action cam surely isn’t as cutting edge as Insta360’s Ace Pro 2 action cam, which is capable of recording in 8K.
I think helmets like the LIVALL MC1 are exercises in what helmets can become, provided big names in the tech game join forces and collaborate on helmet-integrated tech.
But as much as I appreciate innovation, and as much as I enjoy my gadgets as much as the next person, I personally like keeping my riding gear as simple as possible. I enjoy the modularity of removing my action camera from my helmet when I don’t need it, or strapping on a helmet bereft of any communication devices. At the same time, I’m very much dependent on my Cardo PackTalk Edge every time I go on long rides with my friends.
Personally, I’m not quite sold on the idea of smart helmets just yet. Nevertheless, I also know plenty of riders who would appreciate the seamless tech integration LIVALL offers. Are you one of them? Let me know in the comments below.
Source: Livall Helmets
