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Volkswagen puts smart glasses on its new e-bikes
Volkswagen and n+ launched premium e-bikes with a rear camera, radar, blind-spot alerts, and optional smart glasses with a head-up display.
Image: ITzine
Volkswagen has launched a new premium e-bike line with features more commonly associated with cars: a rear camera, radar, blind-spot warnings, and optional smart glasses. The bikes were developed with n+, the company previously known for working with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
The lineup includes two versions — Sport and Crossover — with pedal assist up to 25 km/h and range up to 160 km. Battery boosters are available for both models.
At the center of the package is a system Volkswagen calls Smart View. A display on the handlebar works with the rear-mounted camera so riders can see what is happening behind them without constantly turning around. The radar monitors vehicles in blind spots and warns when traffic is approaching quickly.
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Volkswagen also built safety lighting into the frame. An LED strip in the top tube helps improve visibility in daylight, turns red while braking, and amber when turning.
The accessories push the concept even further. A smart helmet connects to the bike over Bluetooth, syncs its lighting with braking and turn signals, and uses an integrated accelerometer to detect a fall and send a message to emergency contacts.
The standout extra is a pair of smart glasses with a head-up display. They show navigation, blind-spot warnings, and other ride data directly in the rider’s field of view.
Pricing makes clear this is not a mass-market play. The Sport model starts at $3 999, while the Crossover costs $4 349. The smart helmet is priced at $399, and the smart glasses at $499.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via ITzine
