Tag Archives: action camera

Revan camera may replace mirrors

Future motorcycles may not need mirrors with this Revan helmet-mounted live-feed camera that screens images to a head-up display (HUD).

Some may find this bulky camera and HUD device as a safety feature that eliminates blind spots while others may view it as a dangerous distraction.

The Revan system includes an intercom for VoIP-based group calling and bluetooths to your phone so you can hear GPS instructions, take and make calls and listen to music.

Crowd fundingRevan dashcam HUD bluetooth unit

Revan hopes to take this to market through a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign which has already more than doubled its $47,689 goal with 32 days still to go.

The South Korean developers claim it will cost $US999 (about $A1600) or $US699 (about $A1130) for early supporters.

However, there is no timeline for when the product will be produced and delivered.

We warn potential supporters of Kickstarter crowd-funding campaigns that they do not issue a refund. Backers will have to contact the campaigner for a refund, put a stop to their payment or cancel their credit card.

How Revan worksRevan dashcam HUD bluetooth unit

The Revan system is the most bulky camera or HUD system we have yet seen.

It features a big battery unit on the back and large camera on top of the helmet, plus speakers inside the helmet all connected by messy wiring.

We have to wonder about the dangerous rotation of your head in a crash and the damage that could cause to your spine.

Under coming European helmet regulations, this unit would have to be tested with helmets to be approved for sale.

The unit has two batteries with 7000 mAh of power that last 12 hours. The battery unit features built-in LED lights for night visibility.

Revan dashcam HUD bluetooth unitBattery unit

Revan’s 1080p HD camera provides a 143° field of vision.Revan dashcam HUD bluetooth unit

It can be operated by a Bluetooth remote control that get on your handlebars.

Revan dashcam HUD bluetooth unitRemote control

Or you can simply nod your head a couple of times to activate the front and rear cameras.Revan dashcam HUD bluetooth unit

It not only shows the live feed on the periphery HUD screen, but also records it like a dashcam.

There is also a phone app that allows you to watch a live feed, set up group calls or adjust the camera settings.

The live feed facility could even replace conventional mirrors in future, although we would feel better about using our mirrors.

Also in the future, they plan to include navigation as well as real-time streaming so your loved ones can sit at home and keep track of your ride!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Should new helmet regulations cause concern?

Proposed helmet accessories testing regulations have concerned riders that aftermarket externally fitted Bluetooth intercoms and cameras may be banned.

However, one helmet expert says there is no cause for concern!

The proposed changes are part of the upgrade to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 22.05 standard which has been accepted for use in Australia since 2016.

The new UN ECE 22.06 proposal also seeks to include testing for head rotation in a crash, visor shatterproof durability and the ability of modular helmets to protect you when the chin bar is in place and when it is open.

Members of the UN Working Party will continue discussions on the ECE 22.06 proposals in June 2020 with two years of research results incorporated before it’s finalised.

This would mean the new regulations would not come into effect in Europe until, at the earliest, 2023.

That will be followed by three years of coexistence with ECE 22.05 rules.

Longtime Australian helmet law advocate Wayne Carruthers says that means they would not affect Aussie riders for about five or six more years.

New helmet regulationsLG Action CAM

The controversial change is that helmets should not be modified from original manufacturer specification, which appears to have serious implications for intercoms and action cameras.

“Accessories must be fitted in accordance with the helmet manufacturer’s instructions,” the proposal says.

“Only accessories approved by the Authority shall be used. In case of any other modification or addition of non-approved accessories (helmet cameras, visors, communication devices, etc.) the helmet homologation becomes invalid.”

The Australian Motorcycle Council has long said that ECE 22.05 only affects the helmet at the point of sale and should not impact on the owner’s desire to fit accessories, so long as they do not affect the integrity of the helmets.

For example, you shouldn’t drill holes in the helmet to fit them.

However, the new rules seems to suggest that helmets are not allowed to be modified … ever!

Not so, says Wayne.

“Basically the move means helmet manufacturers selling helmets with their own accessories must test them to ensure the helmet with their accessories fitted meets the standard and have approval numbers for the accessories,” he says.

Wayne points out that the phrase “Only accessories approved by the authority shall be used” means aftermarket accessory manufacturers would have to go through an approval process for use on helmets.

“Since comms and camera technology development is moving so fast by the time 22.06 came into force in Europe let alone Australia we would be likely to see standardised inbuilt mounting cavities in helmets for many makes and models of accessories,” he says.

The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations which is involved in the upgrade process agrees.

Spokesperson Wim Taal says: “The way I read it, this means you will not be allowed to fit accessories that were not tested with the helmet. It is hard to imagine the police checking this.”

Obviously Wim is unfamiliar with Australian police!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Must-Have Motorcycle Gadgets to Improve Your Riding Experience

(Contributed article on motorcycle gadgets)

Owning a motorcycle is an amazing experience. Regardless of the type of motorbike you have, it can’t get much better than cruising down country roads on your bike. Nevertheless, your riding experience can always be improved, and there is a myriad of accessories to choose from to do just that. We’re not talking about innovations that can turn your pride and joy into a self-riding autonomous motorcycle, but unpretentious gadgets that can have a serious impact on your daily rides and improve your quality of life during your travels.

We live in an age where our lives are intertwined with technology. As such, there’s no escaping its influence in every aspect of our daily routine. With the advent of groundbreaking technologies like IoT and GPS, we now have smart homes, smart kitchen appliances, and smart vehicles that can ‘talk’ to each other. We, motorcyclists, are blessed by the technological innovations of our time, with advanced communication, security and quality of life improvement across the board.

Here are some of the gadgets that have changed the way we ride and improved our daily adventures:

Camera Equipment

Almost all motorcyclists opt to use action cameras or video recorders while travelling these days, for diverse reasons. Accidents and confrontations between motorbikes and other vehicles occur almost every day – it’s astounding that car drivers still tend to ignore the motorcycles around them. When things go wrong, it can even lead to physical altercations between drivers and riders. In these situations, you may have to prove that you are not at fault, as motorbike owners are notorious for wriggling their way through traffic. It is not all bad news though – video cameras are also great at capturing the beautiful scenery you’ll pass during your travels, helping you relive your memories and reminisce from time to time.

motorcycle gadgets

GoPro devices are extremely popular among motorcyclists, with high-quality recording capabilities and immense durability. The devices can be mounted to a helmet or the bike itself in various positions. These small yet powerful video cameras can capture HD footage, and prove extremely useful in an altercation or physical conflict to determine who’s at fault, providing undeniable evidence of the event.

Communication

One of the biggest challenges with motorbiking is communication. Communicating with passengers or fellow riders used to be almost impossible without devising hand signals to convey your thoughts. But motorcycle intercoms, Bluetooth headsets and hands-free communication devices have gotten better and better over the years. Many tech companies now offer helmets with integrated systems that provide a link to your smartphone, that allow you to talk to those around you or even make phone calls to your friends and family while travelling. You can also listen to music or GPS directions through the same channels. What’s more, most of these devices can be activated using voice commands, so that your focus can remain where it should be – on your motorcycle and the road. Check out brands like Sena and Shark for helmet options with integrated communication systems.

Security

One of the hardest challenges as a motorcycle owner is keeping it safe. Motorcycles are one of the easiest types of vehicle to steal, especially when they lack comprehensive security m

easures. Yet, depending on the make and model, they can still be as desirable and expensive as other vehicles. These factors put motorbikes among the favourite targets of criminals. There are even organised gangs that target smaller motorcycles and use them to commit other crimes. Keeping a motorcycle out of sight, parking it in a safe spot, and securing it with durable chains can only help to a certain extent – an experienced criminal will come prepared with tools like bolt cutters to make quick work of your motorcycle security and get away with it as fast as possible.

motorcycle gadgets

There are few security systems on the market that can change the outcome of a theft attempt given enough time. The most reliable are GPS tracking devices – there are many models designed especially for motorcycles, allowing the exact location of your motorbike to be pinpointed on demand. If an adept criminal manages to steal your bike, a well-hidden motorcycle tracker with a backup battery can pretty much guarantee its recovery. The tracking device will also give numerous alerts and location updates along the way.

Lightingmotorcycle gadgets

For motorcycle riders, it’s extremely important to see clearly and to be seen by nearby drivers at all times. During the day this is less of a problem, but once it gets dark, a lack of proper lighting can lead to serious accidents. A simple mistake on the behalf of the rider, a nearby vehicle driver or even a pedestrian can result in a collision with life-threatening injuries. Developments in lighting technology have helped to make motorcyclists considerably more visible over the years. Wireless helmet brake lights and LED light strips around your motorcycle and/or its wheels can make you and your motorcycle significantly more noticeable in low-light conditions. For safety reasons, motorcyclists should prioritise proper lighting devices that increase the visibility of their motorbike over tools that look cool but fail to provide real protection.

Conclusion

Technology has a significant role to play during your travels on your motorcycle. It’s worth investing in the right accessories and gadgets to improve your riding adventures and boost the security of your precious bike. Luxuries that were once thought to be privy to other vehicle owners – such as listening to music or navigating your path in remote areas – are now readily available for motorcyclists with the help of new technology as well. Sophisticated next-gen helmets will allow you to talk to your friends, while a motorcycle GPS tracking device will boost the overall security of your two-wheeler and provide theft recovery methods should the worst happen. Most of these gadgets are relatively cheap and easy to install or use; motorcycle owners can enhance their daily rides to a whole new level by adopting devices specifically designed for motorcyclists.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

360º videos put you in rider’s seat

These amazing 360º videos of British Superbike rider Peter Hickman put you in the rider’s seat like no other on-board video we have seen before.

A few weeks ago he posted this video of him doing two laps of Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk, during a free practice session in June 2019.

Then he followed it up a couple of days ago with this video shot during the second BSB practice session at Thruxton in April 2019.

360º camera

We must admit we are bored with the abundance of on-board action videos, but this 360º view is something else.

It was shot using a Insta360 ONE X camera positioned on the headstock of Hickman’s BMW S 1000 RR where the view swivels completely around.

Insta360 ONE X 360º cameraInsta360 ONE X 360º camera

Ok, it’s not exactly in the rider’s seat, but the camera provides the most unique view of riders we have seen.

Most importantly the videos show the amount of stress and strain on the rider and how much a racer really moves around in his seat.

The Insta360 One X costs about $A750 and combines the options of 4K and 360º lenses.

It also has FlowState stabilisation so the image isn’t blurred by the vibrations from the bike.

AI-powered features include auto-follow, auto-frame and auto-edit.

It measures just 115 x 48 x 28mm and weighs only 115g. It’s capable of shooting 5.7K footage at 30fps.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Are helmet attachments now legal?

More riders can now wear helmet cameras and bluetooth intercom attachments and fit tinted visors after South Australia joined the ACT in formal acknowledgement of 2015 changes to the Australian Road Rules (ARR).

That leaves Victoria as the only state where police have an issue with these attachments, although we have not heard of any recent fines.

It has never been an issue in Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory or Queensland where a former Police Minister actually encouraged helmet camera use for evidential reasons.

Australian Motorcycle Council Protective Clothing sub-committee chair Brian Wood says their advice from the NSW Centre for Road Safety is that cameras and communication devices are legal provided the helmet manufacturer approves their use.

“I’m not aware of anyone in NSW being booked for having a camera or communication device on their helmet for a couple of years,” Brian says.

Attachments legal

South Australian Ride to Review spokesman Tim Kelly says the state accepted their submission to accept the ARR.

Hew says it means the requirements for adherence to a helmet standard “become point-of-sale only”.

“This means helmet attachments will become legal, tinted visors will become legal and MX sun visors will become legal,” he says.

The only amendment to the ARR was the inclusion of a reference to a helmet being in good repair and proper working order and condition.

Rider warned

Confusion grows on on helmet attachments jail cameras
Eric Aria (Photo courtesy Channel 7)

In 2017, Adelaide rider Erica Aria went to the Sturt Police Station to submit video of drivers cutting him off in traffic but instead received an official warning for an “illegal helmet camera”.

The police said he could cop a $450 fine if he was caught again with the camera.

Eric has now welcomed the changes to the state rules.

“At least now people know if they can legally wear them or not and there’ll be no double standards with police wearing them and not the riders who genuinely need the camera for safety and insurance reasons,” he says.

Safety testing

Brian says the NSW Centre for Road Safety did some “oblique impact testing” at Crashlab several years ago on the effect of helmet attachments.

It has been suggested that they can rotate the rider’s head in a crash, causing neck injuries.

However, the Centre’s report on this testing is yet to be released.

“It should eventually be released, we just don’t know when,” Brian says.

The Centre told us they had completed three sets of tests on attachments fitted to motorcycle helmets:

The final series of tests were completed earlier this year.  The results and recommendations from the tests are currently been reviewed and a report is expected to be published in 2020.

Brian points out that in the ACT it is legal to have a camera or communication device on a helmet provided that the mount is ‘frangible’ which means it easily breaks off in a crash.

“What constitutes a frangible mount is not defined,” Brian says.

“Hopefully, the CfRS report will give guidance on this. 

The NSW Police wear cameras and communication devices on their helmets.

“I believe they have done their own oblique impact testing at Crashlab. They use a 3M product called Dual Lock. 

I believe Dual Lock was part of the CfRS testing. However, there are several versions of Dual Lock. I don’t know which one or ones have been tested.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Slim Cambox gives eye-level view

Cambox V4 Pro is a slim action camera that fits around a helmet’s visor aperture to give a more accurate viewpoint of what you see when riding.

Unlike the many bulky helmet cameras that fit on top, below or beside the helmet, this curved unit fits close to your eyes for a more “normal” viewpoint. It will also fit any type of helmet or even a hat.

It easily fits to your helmet with a self-adhesive velcro system.

The Cambox V4 Pro is the latest development of their slimline Cambox cameras.

This new model is claimed to be up to three times lighter than most other cameras at 65g.

It should also have less wind resistance and less likelihood of damaging rotational forces on your neck in a crash.

Since it is so small, you can fit it inside the visor aperture (so long as there is room) so it does not protrude outside the helmet.

We know South Australian and Victorian police don’t approve of cameras on helmets, but let’s see how they deal with this!Cambox V4 Pro action camera

Cambox crowd funding

The French developers have launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding program to go into production with the Cambox V4 Pro available in January 2020 for €499 (about $A810).

Early supporters of the crowd-funding campaign can order one for a 38% discount at €309 (about $A500) in black, blue, red or green.

Apart from its slimline design, it still does most of the things other action cameras provide.

It has 4K/60fps, 12 megapixels video with a 150-degree lens and slow motion option at 240fps.Cambox V4 Pro action camera

They also claim it has stereo sound from two mics at either end, although we are not sure how much that will separate the sound.

It has wifi/bluetooth connectivity to your phone so you can view your videos or share them straight away on social media.

Cambox V4 Pro is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery that has more than twice the power of their V3 model.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Narrate your video while you ride

Sena’s new 10C Evo helmet intercom arrives this week with a slimmer profile and an integrated 4K camera that allows you to narrate and include background music.

Tracey Pola of Sena Australia says the $589 unit will arrive this week and the entire shipment is pre-sold.

The popularity of both intercoms and cameras to record rides for entertainment and evidence in the case of accidents is increasing.

So units that combine the two should be winners, especially in such a compact unit as this Sena 10C Evo.

Be warned that police in Victoria and South Australia still believe cameras attached to helmets render the helmet non-compliant.

However, since we have not heard of any police fining a rider for having an intercom on a helmet, you may be able to fool the cops by telling them it’s just an intercom!

Sena 10C Evo

The new 10C Evo intercom will pair with four other units with range up to 1.6km (1 mile).

It includes all the usual intercom functions, as well as FM and pairing with a device up to 15m away.

Despite also including a 4K (30 frames per second ) camera, the unit is now 10% slimmer at 95mm long, 59mm tall and only 31mm wide. That’s only about 5mm wider than their 30K unit.

Narrate videoSena 10C Evo allows you to narrate over your video

However, the big attraction with this integrated unit is that you can easily narrate over the video.

You can even add background music with their Smart Audio Mix tech – all on the fly!

No need for editing all this into the video later on.

You can start recording at the touch of a button and voice prompts will keep you updated on your videoing.

There is also a video tagging function to save important events from a continuous loop of video to create highlights.

Apart from video, it will also take photos in still shot, burst, or time-lapse mode (one shot every second or every 2, 5 or 10 seconds).

A full battery charge will provide about 20 hours of talk time and 90 minutes of video recording.

The 10C EVO accepts MicroSD cards up to 128 GB.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Riders charged over third-party GoPro evidence

NSW Police are charging riders with traffic offences based on GoPro video evidence obtained from other riders, says Sydney lawyer and Ducati 1098S rider Chris Kalpage.

There have been many incidents of riders being charged after self-incriminating evidence was found on their GoPro footage, mobile phone data, GPS and even bike data loggers.

However, Chris says he knows of at least two occasions where NSW Highway Patrol have sifted through the GoPro video of riders to find offences by other riders they may have been following.

He says these riders have been fined for speeding, crossing unbroken and double lines, wheelies, etc.

GoPro evidenceShoei helmet with a GoPro action camera mounted

“I have had matters where a person may spend the day riding with their GoPro videoing their heroics coming up behind other riders who unknowingly may be transgressing,” says Chris, 61, who has been riding since he was 15.

“The rider with the GoPro is spotted at the end of the day by police and pulled over for some transgression that the officer has seen and confiscate their GoPro.

“Subsequently they play the video back at the station and then pay visits to anybody they see on the video.

“The police will then attend the premises of the registered owners of the bikes that they have seen on the videos and place a notice of demand asking that they identify who the rider was at the relevant time.”

Police rights

Chris says police may be within their legal rights to confiscate your GoPro or any other device if “certain prerequisites exist”.

In some places, such as America, police may first have to obtain a search warrant. In Australia, they don’t, so long as the search is lawful.

If police conduct a lawful search, they can seize your camera, SD card, phone, GPS or bike data.

A lawful search is where you give police permission to search you or when the officer has a “reasonable suspicion” that you could have an item containing evidence of an offence.

A crash is a situation where police might exercise their right to collect relevant evidence from victims, offenders and bystanders.

Riders’ rights

GoPro Chris Kalpage evidence
Chris on his Ducati

Chris says NSW Police are going to the home of the registered owners of bikes they have seen on video and formally demanding they identify the rider at the relevant time.

Of course, he advises riders approached by police to identify themselves to first contact their lawyer.

“They often wont show you the video and you will have to take it on faith that you were the relevant bike that was seen on someone’s GoPro footage,” he says.

“In the absence of your election the police have no evidence as to who the rider may have been.”

Chris says it could be difficult for police to substantiate a speeding offence based on the video of a following rider.

“It may be that the speedo of the GoPro rider’s bike can be seen but then it would amount to whether the rider is speeding to catch up with the bike in front or is keeping a consistent distance, and visual over a reasonable period of time,” he says.

“Similarly how do we know whether the GoPro rider’s speedo is accurate? After all, many of us change the sprockets of our bikes which can affect the speedo accuracy.”

He advises that there are many factors in video GoPro evidence that may be challenged, including the legality of the seizure of the evidence.

Click here for our advice to riders about confiscation of a device which may have incriminating evidence.

If you have any questions about this topic or other traffic-related matter, you can ask Chris by leaving your question in the comments section below.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Phone, camera, GPS and bike could incriminate you

If you’ve crashed or been stopped by police who suspect you’ve been doing something illegal, your action camera, phone, GPS and bike could help incriminate you.

Each of these items can contain the evidence police and the courts need to convict you for a traffic or criminal offence.

Phones are the most likely to be confiscated, but we have also heard of police confiscating action cameras.

Quad Lock mobile phone mount incriminate
Your phone could contain incriminating evidence

Motorcycle Riders Association of WA safety officer Dave Wright has defended police for confiscating a Perth rider’s GoPro helmet cam SD card.

“If people are doing stupid things, they should pay the price,” he says.

In the latest case, a helmet camera from a dead rider has this month helped convict a British motorcyclist of dangerous driving.

His conviction was based on video evidence confiscated from the helmet of a riding colleague who died in a crash last year.

Police can also get vital evidence from GPS devices that record fastest and elapsed times.

They can also obtain incriminating evidence from motorcycles that feature data loggers.

What rights do you have?

So what do you do if police ask for an item that could incriminate you?

In some places, such as America, police may first have to obtain a search warrant. In Australia, they don’t, so long as the search is lawful.

If police conduct a lawful search, they can seize your camera, SD card, phone, GPS or bike data.

SD Card in a GoPro - jail camera minor incriminate
SD Card in a GoPro

It’s not just the item of the alleged offender; police can also ask a bystander to an offence for evidence.

A lawful search is where you give police permission to search you or when the officer has a “reasonable suspicion” that you could have an item containing evidence of an offence.

A crash is a situation where police might exercise their right to collect relevant evidence from victims, offenders and bystanders.Cop injured under new speed rule crash police emergency 40km/h incriminate

How do you not incriminate yourself?

If you don’t want to incriminate yourself, there are some steps you can take.

Without wishing to pervert the course of justice, we suggest you extract the SD card from your camera, bike or GPS.

Or at least turn off your camera to avoid attracting the attention of the police.

If they see the camera or GPS is off or that the SD card is missing, they might assume you weren’t recording.

However, we do not suggest you lie and say you don’t have it or that it wasn’t recording. That could incriminate you in a whole other offence.

In one British case, six riders were banned from driving after two cameras which they had thrown away in a tunnel incriminated them.

Even if you want to use the evidence later in your defence, your lie will then be obvious and police could charge you for providing false information.

If they ask for the camera, GPS, phone, SD card or data logger, you can politely tell the police you will gladly make it available after it has been copied. 

That may not work, unless you have been syrupy sweet.

Don’t be obstinate. That could be seen as refusing to hand over evidence and you could be charged with obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty.

That would result in a court appearance where you could cop a fine of a few hundred dollars.

The proper procedure is to let them take it and then challenge it in court. But, of course, the horse has already bolted.

gopro fine helmet camera cam freely incriminate

Another legal opinion

However, one legal advisor suggests that would offend the right to not incriminate yourself.

“But there is the law and there is reality,” he notes.

“Coppers will usually do whatever is easiest to ‘prove’ an offence. If that entails bullying a motorist into handing over an SD card, that is what the coppers will do.”

If your camera or SD card has been confiscated by the police or handed over to them, ask the officer to make a note of it.

Police must supply you with a receipt of the item as “soon as possible”.

It must also be returned to you in 30 days unless it is to be used as evidence. In that case, police have to apply for an extension through court.

If the matter goes to court, your legal representative can also ask for the card or, at least, a copy to be supplied for your use as evidence.

Please note:

  • This article is based on several other articles already published on Motorbike Writer as well as information from police and lawyers, including East Coast Lawyer Tina Davis and assistant Robyn Temperton. It is not legal advice. For legal advice, you should engage the services of a lawyer.
  • If you have any further questions about your legal rights, Tina says you are welcome to email her or contact her at 1300 720 544.
  • Since the law can be challenged and is open to legal interpretation, you may disagree with many of the points raised here. Please feel free to comment in the “Leave a reply” section below.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com