Hammerhead Navigation, a U.S. company has started a fundraising campaign on Dragon Innovation for its LED bike navigation system that can be programmed with a smartphone. The navigation system, Hammerhead, makes cycling safer as it saves cyclists the trouble of checking their smartphones for locations and routes while on the road. The bright RGB LEDs signal different information according to its array on the device, and capable of a wide range of signals including:

Center light array:

Distance to turns. Distance to destination. Distance to top of a climb. U turn.

Segment start and end. Relative segment speed.

Top array:

Primary turns. Right & left. Exit at a circle.

Red dot sliding compass - for accurate off road navigation.

Front and sidelights:

Bright headlight: Night visibility. Can be dimmed or flashed.

Side lights: Indicate turns to cars. Side visibility.

Biking navigation apps Strava, MapMyRide - in real time

The bike’s internal compass and red dot indicators function as a navigation guide for bikers, and relies on the smartphone’s GPS system for navigation. The navigator has a long battery life of lasting 20 hours before requiring a recharge via micro USB. In addition, it can work with the smartphone screen switched off.

Hammerhead mounted on a bike and in action. (LEDinside/Hammerhead Navigation)

Hammerhead has undergone one year development and testing, and so far has raised US$ 22,395 out of its US$145,000 goal for the project. With 29 days to go for its fundraising campaign, it will be interesting to see whether LED bike navigators will become a must have safety device for cyclists.

Hammerhead with the power turned off. (LEDinside/Hammerhead Navigation)