Automatic deceleration indication involves a deceleration sensor unit that senses deceleration and a microprocessor that causes deceleration warning light illumination when a sensed deceleration exceeds a threshold value. The deceleration sensor unit may include a solid state accelerometer acting as a deceleration sensor, a GPS module acting as a deceleration sensor, or both. The deceleration warning light my be a brake light, a separate warning light attached to a vehicle, or worn by an operator or passenger of bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle.

An improved safety helmet is a safety helmet for an emergency responder such as a policeman or a fireman that has a plurality of light emitting diodes that are able to flash in various combinations of sequences and in standard emergency light colors to make the emergency responder more visible to others in the vicinity. The safety helmet has a battery power source, a video camera, a transmitter, a receiver, a solar panel for charging the battery, and a thermal imaging scope formed into the safety helmet. There may also be a USB port and cable for recording and downloading.

Vehicle signaling configurable to various articles and apparel is provided. An example system allows a user to dynamically assign vehicle signals for activating brake lights, turn signals, running lights, headlights, police emergency lights, and so forth, to user-selected lights built into articles and apparel. Vehicle signals may be wirelessly assigned to lights on articles and apparel through a smart phone application, or other portable software means. The system forms a self-managing wireless network, to which the user can add any number of additional illuminated articles and pieces of illuminated apparel, which are automatically sensed and integrated. An example helmet spoiler, for example, has a receiver for processing a wireless signal from a vehicle, to actuate brake lights, turn signals, headlights, and the like on the spoiler itself. In a police implementation, a helmet actuates police flashers on the helmet based on an assigned wireless signal from a police vehicle.

Systems and methods for replicating vehicular illumination are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a detector configured to sense light emitted by a host light of a host vehicle for detecting a lighting state of the host light. The system also includes a communications system configured to communicate the detected lighting state between the host light and the remote light. Further, the system includes a remote light being located on one of the host vehicle and an operator of the host vehicle and configured to replicate the lighting state of the host light.

A method for providing a spatially perceptible acoustic signal for a rider of a two-wheeled vehicle, including: providing an acoustic signal by a two-wheeled vehicle; determining the position of a helmet worn by the rider of the two-wheeled vehicle relative to the two-wheeled vehicle; processing the acoustic signal depending on the determined position to provide a three-dimensional output signal which constitutes a binaural projection of the acoustic signal; and outputting the output signal via a stereo headset of the helmet, wherein the output signal spatially positions a sound source contained in the acoustic signal depending on the determined position, whereby the sound source is spatially locatable by the rider of the two-wheeled vehicle.

An advanced warning light system in a motorcycle has a brake light comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) wherein each LED is configured to illuminate a first color when a motorcycle brake is depressed and wherein only a subset of LEDs are configured to illuminate when the motorcycle is decelerating not in response to the brake being depressed. The system further has a controller area network (CAN) bus for transmitting messages, at least one controller configured for monitoring operations of a motorcycle, the at least one controller further configured for transmitting a message on the CAN bus when a monitored operation occurs on the motorcycle, the message comprising data indicating that the vehicle is slowing down, and a CAN bus interface configured to receive the message from the CAN bus and determine if the brake is being depressed or if the motorcycle is slowing down not in response to the brake being depressed, the CAN bus interface configured to transmit a message to illuminate all LEDs on the brake light if the brake is being depressed and configured to transmit a message to illuminate only the subset of LEDs on the brake light if the motorcycle is slowing down for a reason other than the brake being depressed. Additionally, the system has a processor configured for receiving the message from the CAN bus interface, the processor further configured for illuminating the brake light or a subset of the LEDs on the brake light based upon the message received to indicate to a driver following the motorcycle that the motorcycle is slowing down.

An auxiliary lighting system for a helmet operable with a lighting system of a vehicle comprising a vehicle brake light, comprised of a helmet portion and a vehicle portion. The helmet portion is comprised of a helmet lighting unit, a microcontroller in communication with the helmet brake light, and a helmet transceiver in communication with the microcontroller. The vehicle portion is comprised of a supporting body, a vehicle transceiver, and an accelerometer joined to the supporting body and in communication with the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed with an algorithm such that the microcontroller receives a signal indicative of the relative position of the accelerometer, determines the performance capability of the accelerometer in detecting acceleration of the vehicle with respect to the Earth based upon the signal indicative of the position of the accelerometer, and presents an indication of accelerometer performance capability.

Systems and methods for replicating vehicular illumination are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a detector configured to sense light emitted by a host light of a host vehicle for detecting a lighting state of the host light. The system also includes a communications system configured to communicate the detected lighting state between the host light and the remote light. Further, the system includes a remote light being located on one of the host vehicle and an operator of the host vehicle and configured to replicate the lighting state of the host light.

Vehicle signaling configurable to various articles and apparel is provided. An example system allows a user to dynamically assign vehicle signals for activating brake lights, turn signals, running lights, headlights, police emergency lights, and so forth, to user-selected lights built into articles and apparel. Vehicle signals may be wirelessly assigned to lights on articles and apparel through a smart phone application, or other portable software means. The system forms a self-managing wireless network, to which the user can add any number of additional illuminated articles and pieces of illuminated apparel, which are automatically sensed and integrated. An example helmet spoiler, for example, has a receiver for processing a wireless signal from a vehicle, to actuate brake lights, turn signals, headlights, and the like on the spoiler itself. In a police implementation, a helmet actuates police flashers on the helmet based on an assigned wireless signal from a police vehicle.

A protective wearable system comprises a helmet for providing protection and enhancing safety to a rider on a vehicle. In one embodiment, the helmet comprises a LED display configured to produce visual information to vehicles and pedestrians surrounding the rider. The helmet further comprises a control module and a communication module configured to establish a point-to-multipoint communication group such that the rider can transmit or receive real-time and/or just-in-time information to other members of a riding group. The protective wearable system further comprises one or more illuminated wearables and accessories configured to produce light signals for clearly depicting silhouette of the rider and synchronized to the helmet for making the rider more visible and identifiable to nearby motorists.