Bicycle Light
Bicycle Light
Duration
Date
5 Weeks
Fall '24
Design goals
Create a system for cyclists to be able to bike in all situations in a safer manner. Design a bicycle light that can respond to the surrounding environment in order to effectively convey information to other people. Integrate form to flow with the forms of a bicycle.
Create a system for cyclists to be able to bike in all situations in a safer manner. Design a bicycle light that can respond to the surrounding environment in order to effectively convey information to other people. Integrate form to flow with the forms of a bicycle.
Create a system for cyclists to be able to bike in all situations in a safer manner. Design a bicycle light that can respond to the surrounding environment in order to effectively convey information to other people. Integrate form to flow with the forms of a bicycle.
Skills
Design visualization
Human-machine interaction
Fusion 360 modeling
Rapid prototyping
Arduino
Keyshot
Design visualization
Human-machine interaction
Fusion 360 modeling
Rapid prototyping
Arduino
Keyshot
Design visualization
Human-machine interaction
Fusion 360 modeling
Rapid prototyping
Arduino
Keyshot
Creating a safer way to ride
Urban cycling presents significant risks, especially when others are less aware of their surroundings. With increasing technological distractions, it's more important than ever to design solutions that prioritize safety and minimize danger for cyclists.
Urban cycling presents significant risks, especially when others are less aware of their surroundings. With increasing technological distractions, it's more important than ever to design solutions that prioritize safety and minimize danger for cyclists.
Urban cycling presents significant risks, especially when others are less aware of their surroundings. With increasing technological distractions, it's more important than ever to design solutions that prioritize safety and minimize danger for cyclists.
Current bicycle light analysis
Current bicycle light analysis
Analyzing the use of traditional bicycle lights provided valuable insights into how users interact with the product. This informed my approach to creating a light that responds to environmental changes, enhancing safety on the road.
Analyzing the use of traditional bicycle lights provided valuable insights into how users interact with the product. This informed my approach to creating a light that responds to environmental changes, enhancing safety on the road.
Analyzing the use of traditional bicycle lights provided valuable insights into how users interact with the product. This informed my approach to creating a light that responds to environmental changes, enhancing safety on the road.
Human-machine interaction flow diagram
By closely examining the relationship between user cognition, physical actions, and the device's operations, I developed a system that effectively communicates critical information to others on the road.
By closely examining the relationship between user cognition, physical actions, and the device's operations, I developed a system that effectively communicates critical information to others on the road.
By closely examining the relationship between user cognition, physical actions, and the device's operations, I developed a system that effectively communicates critical information to others on the road.
Form Exploration
Explored structures with long, sweeping curves to create a sleek, minimal silhouette that harmonizes with the bicycle's form.
Explored structures with long, sweeping curves to create a sleek, minimal silhouette that harmonizes with the bicycle's form.
Explored structures with long, sweeping curves to create a sleek, minimal silhouette that harmonizes with the bicycle's form.
Material and Light Exploration
Investigated light diffusion and its interaction with materials like metal, glass, and plastic to enhance the visual and functional aspects of the design.
Investigated light diffusion and its interaction with materials like metal, glass, and plastic to enhance the visual and functional aspects of the design.
Investigated light diffusion and its interaction with materials like metal, glass, and plastic to enhance the visual and functional aspects of the design.
Deconstruction of a bike light
Deconstructing a bike light
Deconstructing and disassembling an existing bike light on the market provided valuable insights into its internal components and overall functionality. This process not only revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the current product but also informed critical decisions in my own bike light design. From component integration to form factor and functionality, the teardown allowed me to refine my design approach.
Deconstructing and disassembling an existing bike light on the market provided valuable insights into its internal components and overall functionality.
This process not only revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the current product but also informed critical decisions in my own bike light design.
From component integration to form factor and functionality, the teardown allowed me to refine my design approach.
Initial thumbnail sketches
In my early ideation phase, I focused on seamlessly integrating the light with the bike. I explored smooth, elongated forms with strong boundary lines to create a clean, high-visibility product. Additionally, I considered user interaction with the product, particularly the placement and design of the side button.
In my early ideation phase, I focused on seamlessly integrating the light with the bike. I explored smooth, elongated forms with strong boundary lines to create a clean, high-visibility product. Additionally, I considered user interaction with the product, particularly the placement and design of the side button.
In my early ideation phase, I focused on seamlessly integrating the light with the bike. I explored smooth, elongated forms with strong boundary lines to create a clean, high-visibility product. Additionally, I considered user interaction with the product, particularly the placement and design of the side button.
Refined Concept Sketches
Building on the initial sketches, I refined the form to achieve a longer, more elegant design that complements the bicycle while ensuring visibility from multiple angles. Introducing color allowed me to explore how lighting effects can convey information to users.
Building on the initial sketches, I refined the form to achieve a longer, more elegant design that complements the bicycle while ensuring visibility from multiple angles. Introducing color allowed me to explore how lighting effects can convey information to users.
Building on the initial sketches, I refined the form to achieve a longer, more elegant design that complements the bicycle while ensuring visibility from multiple angles. Introducing color allowed me to explore how lighting effects can convey information to users.
Integrating accelerometer and other components
Integrating accelerometer and other components
Using a breadboard circuit, I tested and iterated the integration of sensors and components, including an accelerometer for detecting acceleration and deceleration, a lithium rechargeable battery, a boost converter, buttons, and an Arduino Nano, to ensure the light's responsiveness to environmental changes.
Using a breadboard circuit, I tested and iterated the integration of sensors and components, including an accelerometer for detecting acceleration and deceleration, a lithium rechargeable battery, a boost converter, buttons, and an Arduino Nano, to ensure the light's responsiveness to environmental changes.
Model Iteration
Model Iteration
Refining forms in Fusion 360 and prototyping them with a 3D printer enabled me to develop a cohesive and functional design. This iterative process allowed for constant evaluation and adjustment, helping me gain a clearer understanding of proportion, light diffusion, and how the product interacts with both people and bicycles. By physically testing different shapes and configurations, I was able to fine-tune the balance between aesthetics and usability.
Refining forms in Fusion 360 and prototyping them with a 3D printer enabled me to develop a cohesive and functional design. This iterative process allowed for constant evaluation and adjustment, helping me gain a clearer understanding of proportion, light diffusion, and how the product interacts with both people and bicycles. By physically testing different shapes and configurations, I was able to fine-tune the balance between aesthetics and usability.
Exploded view
The design includes a durable outer body, a lithium battery for power, an Arduino Nano to control functionality, an accelerometer to detect changes in speed, and an LED strip for dynamic lighting. The bike connection port ensures secure attachment, while the diffuse plate softens the light for better visibility and safety.
The design includes a durable outer body, a lithium battery for power, an Arduino Nano to control functionality, an accelerometer to detect changes in speed, and an LED strip for dynamic lighting. The bike connection port ensures secure attachment, while the diffuse plate softens the light for better visibility and safety.
The design includes a durable outer body, a lithium battery for power, an Arduino Nano to control functionality, an accelerometer to detect changes in speed, and an LED strip for dynamic lighting. The bike connection port ensures secure attachment, while the diffuse plate softens the light for better visibility and safety.
Enhancing visibility through flashing lights
Flashing lights stand out due to their contrast with the surroundings, activate quicker cognitive responses, and are more noticeable in peripheral vision. This heightened visibility ensures that cyclists are seen by others on the road sooner, giving drivers more time to react and reducing the risk of accidents.
Flashing lights stand out due to their contrast with the surroundings, activate quicker cognitive responses, and are more noticeable in peripheral vision. This heightened visibility ensures that cyclists are seen by others on the road sooner, giving drivers more time to react and reducing the risk of accidents.
Flashing lights stand out due to their contrast with it's surroundings, activate quicker cognitive responses, and are more noticeable in peripheral vision. This heightened visibility ensures that cyclists are seen by others on the road sooner, giving drivers more time to react and reducing the risk of accidents.
Flashing lights stand out due to their contrast with the surroundings, activate quicker cognitive responses, and are more noticeable in peripheral vision. This heightened visibility ensures that cyclists are seen by others on the road sooner, giving drivers more time to react and reducing the risk of accidents.
Working Prototype
In developing the reactive bike light prototype, I used my Arduino and coding knowledge alongside a C++ coding GPT I created to streamline the process. This combination allowed me to write efficient, responsive code that enabled the bike light to react dynamically to acceleration changes.
In developing the reactive bike light prototype, I used my Arduino and coding knowledge alongside a C++ coding GPT I created to streamline the process. This combination allowed me to write efficient, responsive code that enabled the bike light to react dynamically to acceleration changes.
In developing the reactive bike light prototype, I used my Arduino and coding knowledge alongside a C++ coding GPT I created to streamline the process. This combination allowed me to write efficient, responsive code that enabled the bike light to react dynamically to acceleration changes.
Link to code
Soft deceleration
Hard deceleration
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