What to do for my master thesis?

[twowings]

An airbag system to protect the rider in the event of being hit from the rear...

[rtbickel]

Now if someone could just figure out how to put a self-contained air conditioner in a full face helmet and have it weigh less than 5 pounds.  And under $500. 

[atavar]

I met a guy on a massive old GoldWing in Arizona one time that had on board A/C..  he said it actually helped at stoplights with a bubble of cool air.  It cooled the cupholders too!

Or there is this.. http://www.veskimo.com/

[unclepete]

How about a comparative study on the effectiveness of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic Rider Course in the US,versus what equivalent training is offered in a country of your choice?

There should be lots of data available to test your hypothesis both here and in the country you choose.

Best wishes for your graduation.

This seems to me the only reasonable approach . What this country needs is better driver education .
Having very recently been rear-ended on my bike , by another bike of all things , an early warning device for impending rear end collision to me borders on ridiculous .
What needs to be understood is how quickly an accident happens ; just a moment's inattention is all it takes .
Drivers don't need additional distractions on their instrument panels , They need to look where they're going .
Airbags , ABS , traction control and crumple zones have significantly enhanced motorist's safety . The downside is that these devices also isolate motorists from each other . They feel safer , so they are less attentive .
Before I got hit , there were a couple of cars ahead of me on a mountain road , and  in the mirrors I saw a bike catch up and keep a respectable distance . No opportunity to pass , and no one seemed anxious . I signaled and slowed to turn left and just before the intersection got knocked off my bike by the one behind me . He clearly had not looked ahead for some time . Don't know if he could have heard a buzzer or seen a light on the dash ; maybe an electrical probe to some sensitive part ... , but if I had been warned , I don't know what I could have done .
I am afraid that the techno-wizards will not rest until vehicles are driving themselves with occupants napping , drooling down their chins .

[SundayRider]

Very cool.  Good luck!

[HDGoose]

Here's a Master's level question - why does a person in most of the US have to spend many hours in both classroom and behind the wheel training to operate a car but can in many places legally operate a motorcycle that has a higher HP to weight ratio than a NASCAR vehicle after passing a 10 minute written test?

I know laws differ among the states but, overall, I think getting a motorcycle license/permit in the US is too easy.

Where in the USA is classroom training required?

[waxi]

This seems to me the only reasonable approach . What this country needs is better driver education .
Having very recently been rear-ended on my bike , by another bike of all things , an early warning device for impending rear end collision to me borders on ridiculous .
What needs to be understood is how quickly an accident happens ; just a moment's inattention is all it takes .
Drivers don't need additional distractions on their instrument panels , They need to look where they're going .
Airbags , ABS , traction control and crumple zones have significantly enhanced motorist's safety . The downside is that these devices also isolate motorists from each other . They feel safer , so they are less attentive .
Before I got hit , there were a couple of cars ahead of me on a mountain road , and  in the mirrors I saw a bike catch up and keep a respectable distance . No opportunity to pass , and no one seemed anxious . I signaled and slowed to turn left and just before the intersection got knocked off my bike by the one behind me . He clearly had not looked ahead for some time . Don't know if he could have heard a buzzer or seen a light on the dash ; maybe an electrical probe to some sensitive part ... , but if I had been warned , I don't know what I could have done .
I am afraid that the techno-wizards will not rest until vehicles are driving themselves with occupants napping , drooling down their chins .

I think you don't understand the concept. What we need to do is alert the one riding behind us, not ourselfs. If I explain it in you case... You said that he wasn't paying attention for quite some time. Exactly that is the problem! This electronical gadget would detect that bike behind you is approaching way to fast and try to alert him with a strong blinking light for example.

[unclepete]

If he doesn't see me , how is he going to see my light ?

[lost]

If he doesn't see me , how is he going to see my light ?

I would go with the charge to the sensitive areas, it would get attention quickly!http://wildguzzi.com/forum/Smileys/default/bike-037.gif

[waxi]

Eh, this is just like you wouldn't noticed lights from emergency car approaching from behind. Sorry, but you must be blind then.

Listen, there are moments (and please admit it, they happen to everyone of us) when you really can't notice hazard situation or we are distracted somehow, but I think that every step toward at least one saved life is a big step forward!

[Penderic]

Bugs. Windshield Bugs!



 

[Tom]

"Ooooh.....look at the pretty colors........"  splat......

[waxi]

New year, new update.

LIDAR is getting to the point ready to be thoroughly tested on-bike (not very soon... few days back it was -20 degrees Celsius) . Still pending some software optimisations, but hardware is ready!

As you can see on images everything is controlled via Arduino Mega. Powered is through (10.5 volts) step-down converter directly to the bike's battery (12 volt). Step-down converter is used just for precaution: to "smoothen" current delivered from bike's electrical system. Alternator is generating a lot of ripple which is not suitable for low-voltage, sensitive devices. Status of a bike (angle and movement direction - G-force) is detected with on-board accelerometer. I have added Ublox GPS module, from which I get vehicle speed which is needed to calculate speed of vehicle driving behind. Since GPS is very sensitive (and I mean very) and is using quite a lot of current I have added another power supply dedicated only for it. The main sensor - LIDAR from Garmin - is attached on the right side. It can measure distance up to 40 meters accurate to few centimeters. Distance is measured every 200 miliseconds... speed of vehicle driving behind us is then calculated with our own speed provided via GPS. Everything is mounted on a plexiglass, padded with some shock absorption foam. When dangerous situation is detected, Arduino opens 3 relays: 2 are used to alert driver behind us with strong blinking LEDs, third is used to notify me as a driver that something is going on behind. It will be mounted somewhere on a dash.

For debugging purposes I have added 16x2 LCD display and some LEDs. On top of LIDAR is a simple laser to help me point it to right direction. Of course it will be disconnected later, since it can hurt eyes.

Some rear-ended video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSlW_xJMfJs

That is pretty much it. The biggest problem now is how to mount this little thing. I am planning to buy single driver V7 seat and put everything inside this "bulge" or how is it called...

Here are the pics:





imagehost

[twowings]

Splendid work! Wishing you sucessful trials...

[Bulldog9]

Wouldn't you have a 'project' as opposed to a thesis?  I once did a research project on a decision matrix based on the perfect sport touring motorcycle.....  Having done two or three of these things, I use them as either something that will benefit me in my future work/interest, or to add to my resume.  Most importantly do it on something that Interests you.

[waxi]

Splendid work! Wishing you sucessful trials...

Thank you!

Wouldn't you have a 'project' as opposed to a thesis?

Yes, good point! This would be simply a "project" is you said, but controller is only an empirical/practical part/solution of a wider thesis in which I will focus on a motorcycle crash rates and fatality statistics - crashes where motorcyclist is NOT cause of an accident.

Having done two or three of these things, I use them as either something that will benefit me in my future work/interest, or to add to my resume.  Most importantly do it on something that Interests you.

My motto for entire educational process!

[Bulldog9]

Here's a Master's level question - why does a person in most of the US have to spend many hours in both classroom and behind the wheel training to operate a car but can in many places legally operate a motorcycle that has a higher HP to weight ratio than a NASCAR vehicle after passing a 10 minute written test?

I know laws differ among the states but, overall, I think getting a motorcycle license/permit in the US is too easy.

Many states require you to take the MSF course and road test.

[KiwiKev]

A set of extremely loud horns is a must on any bike I reckon. Scares the sh*t out of any dozing idiot in the viscinity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sasquatch Jim]

 How about a built in taser that is hidden in the forward part of the saddle.  Activated one minute after the bike is stolen
 so that it arcs into the thiefs scrotum to let him know that it was not his bike.

[KiwiKev]

Lol, better hope it doesn't malfunction and zap your nuts then


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk