R&D – Flashing green lights to better signal motorcycles and scooters –

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Flashing green lights to better signal motorcycles and scooters

R & amp; D - Flashing green lights to better signal motorcycles and scooters -

To improve the visibility of motorcycles and scooters in traffic, a French company has designed the RVR Safety, a device of flashing green diodes placed at the front of the two-wheeler which is currently in the process of homologation.. Presentation.

Born in the midst of a debate on the compulsory daytime running lights project for all vehicles – which is about to resurface in 2013 at European level – the RVR Safety system (for "Road Visual Tracking") will not fail to divide users of two-wheelers and irritate the most conservative of us (read in particular our)…

Originally, the observation of Xavier Heitz, biker and boss of the French Society of Applied Electronics (SFEA) based in the Parisian suburb of Plessis-Robinson (92), is however simple: we are not visible enough.

"In most accidents involving a two-wheeler and a car, the motorist declares that he did not see the rider", explains Xavier Heitz interviewed by Site."We therefore imagined this box equipped with a row of flashing green diodes, which is placed under the light unit or on the front fender depending on the motorcycles, and which allows users of two-wheelers to be better perceived. in traffic".

Make bikers more visible

To be as efficient as possible without disturbing other users, the intensity and speed of the (arrhythmic) flashing vary according to the ambient light (less bright light in semi-darkness and more bright in direct sunlight) and the behavior of the motorcycle. : an accelerometer detects the phases of acceleration, braking and setting on the angle in order to trigger a faster flashing.

On the user side, this ingenious device includes the box with its printed circuits, sensors and diodes no bigger than a pinhead (photo below), an on / off switch to be placed on the handlebars and a cord. power supply with fuse to be connected directly to the battery.

RVR Safety is currently being tested by the European representatives of the Red Knights (the motorcycle club of American firefighters), as well as by their French counterparts from the Silver Helmets. According to our information, the motorcycle insurer Club 14 would take a close interest in the project and would even have equipped the motorcycles of certain employees with it..

Presented to the interministerial delegate for road safety Michèle Merli and to the former national Mr Moto Denis Redon, the RVR Safety prototype has also fitted certain accompanying motorcycles on the Tour de France cyclist thanks to the involvement of Serge Celerin, former head of Silver helmets and boss of the company SCE Performance.

But before imagining a possible large-scale marketing at the probable price of 149 euros, the RVR Safety must be approved. "It takes a long time, because it involves creating a standard for a product that does not yet exist", explains Xavier Heitz, but"RVR Safety is a French invention which, if necessary, will be manufactured in France by French people".

In-depth review at UTAC

RVR Safety is currently the subject of a study at the Union technique auto moto et cycles (UTAC) headed by Jean-Pierre Mougin, who will soon meet Xavier Heitz to examine the device and see if it can be approved as is or not.

Asked by Site, the former president of the French Motorcycling Federation (FFM) told us that "the difficulty will lie around the interpretation of the flashing system, in order to know whether it should be assimilated to a flashing or not. In fact, the ECE R53 regulation which governs the installation of lighting on motorcycles specifies that unless otherwise indicated, no light must be flashing, except for the direction indicator lights and the hazard warning signal.".

This is why in its latest prototype version, the RVR Safety flashes less markedly, going from an intensity of 100 to 40% instead of 100 to 0%. Because besides its very distinctive green light – and "most easily perceived by the human eye", assures Xavier Heitz – RVR Safety must also stand out from the flashing lights of priority vehicles.

To be followed closely – while respecting the safety distances – on Site: stay connected !

Eric MICHEL

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