What it does
HindSight is an ultra-lightweight safety system that can clip to the shoulder strap of virtually any running vest or backpack. This flexible system detects threats that the user cannot see from behind, and alerts the user through progressive haptic feedback.
Your inspiration
Our team includes an avid runner, who expressed his struggles with rear-facing threats while on long runs. Rural New Zealand roads are extremely dangerous for runners, as they are very narrow, winding, and typically do not include sidewalks or shoulders. Another team member is a motorcyclist, and had heard of warning systems for riders. These systems, however, are fairly bulky and vehicle mounted. Our team sought to explore how to integrate a safety system into the daily use of runners through a highly flexible and light-weight package.
How it works
Hindsight utilizes an ultrasonic sensor to detect threats to runners from behind, and then progressively communicates the proximity and speed of the coming threat to the user through a grid of vibrational motors integrated in the lower section of the shoulder mount. This haptic feedback allows the runner to use headphones while still receiving alerts. The system comprises the shoulder-mounted module and a tethered battery pack. The shoulder mounted module is fastened to the strap of a pack or running vest with an elastic retention system, while the battery pack is stowed in the pack or a pouch on the running vest.
Design process
Our team developed a basic working prototype on a breadboard with a microprocessor, and then explored a variety of mounting systems for the technology, including a pair of sunglasses, and a dedicated ‘fanny pack’. We eventually gravitated toward a shoulder-mounted system, due to its positional stability and flexibility. We experimented with visual, auditory, and haptic forms of information communication. We settled upon haptics, because it allowed for users to listen to music without missing information, while also not having to keep an eye out for flashes of light. We further developed our concept through sketching, before transitioning to 3d modeling and evaluation.
How it is different
Although they have been implemented on motorcycles, there aren’t any systems like this currently available for runners. Our system is highly flexible, and can be easily deployed on a backpack in seconds. Our system’s use of haptics, and its light weight are intended to make the system non-intrusive, ensuring its adoption by the running community.
Future plans
We aim to further develop and produce our concept. We envision the next stage of our development involving large-population trials and feedback, with additional effort being aimed at further size and weight reduction, while optimizing the design for production. Our system is quite inexpensive, and we hope to see mass adoption, and a subsequent reduction in road fatalities and injuries.
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