For years, automobiles have benefited from head-up displays. Also for years, companies have been trying to bring the tech to motorcycle riders. BMW is one such company that has been developing HUD for motorcycles. While its HUD helmet did not come to fruition the idea of ConnectedRide HUD lives on as BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses.
The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses is very much like the Minimis Glass we saw recently developed for cyclists and runners. It looks like a pair of regular eyewear which you can wear with your helmet. It provides the head-up display technology already familiar from the automotive sector and projects relevant data like navigation, speed, or gear, directly into the rider’s field of view in real-time.
The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and the BMW Motorrad Connected app. The position of the projected information and other settings can be set before the ride and also while riding via the multi-controller on the motorcycle handlebars.
The smart eyewear is designed to fit different types of helmets and face shapes, and it is outfitted with a rechargeable battery that is good for up to 10 hours of use in between charges.
It is supplied with two sets of certified UVA/UVB lenses. One set of lenses is 85% transparent and can be used with helmets with integrated sun visors while the other set has tinted lenses perfect for helmets without sun visors. Prescription eyewear users are not left out in the cold. There is an RX adapter (+/- 4.5 diopters) available separately that fits into the inside of the smart glasses.
Finally, it has an integrated light sensor that will allow the smart glasses to adjust the displays, presumably the brightness, automatically for optimal viewing in different light conditions.
The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses have an RRP of a cool 690 euro [DE] (about US$740) in Germany. It is not clear when it will be available outside of Germany and for how much.
Images: BMW.
