A Safety Idea
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60 miles per hour = 88.0 feet per second, so in 2 seconds you travel 176 feet. 176 divided by 15 = approx 11 car lengths. Using the old method 6 x 15 would yield 90 feet, or the distance a car would travel in one second.
So the two second rule allows for reaction time and stopping time... Great... Now to the heart of the issue... When was the last time you saw folks effectively using even the 2 second rule on the highway?
I often see folks at less than 2 car lengths behind other vehicles... that is a 30 foot gap... or, less than 1 second.
My point is that folks don't even bother with a 1 second rule... much less 2-3 seconds or the "stupid" 1 car length for 10MPH old rule.
They somehow feel that the wonderful braking on their new car is so much vastly better that they don't even account for reaction time in their haste to be on the lead car's bumper.
So the two second rule allows for reaction time and stopping time... Great... Now to the heart of the issue... When was the last time you saw folks effectively using even the 2 second rule on the highway?
I often see folks at less than 2 car lengths behind other vehicles... that is a 30 foot gap... or, less than 1 second.
My point is that folks don't even bother with a 1 second rule... much less 2-3 seconds or the "stupid" 1 car length for 10MPH old rule.
They somehow feel that the wonderful braking on their new car is so much vastly better that they don't even account for reaction time in their haste to be on the lead car's bumper.
Basically we need as much distance as can account for reaction time given the speed and having the same deceleration, plus a buffer in case the leading car can stop quicker. Personally I just stay far enough back that if they were to slam on the brakes, I could stop short. Judgement; I don't count seconds and I doubt that anyone does.
A lot of people take more than a second to react to traffic, unfortunately, and as you say sometimes tailgate. I wouldn't say all of them though, even here. What's the argument about, whether a warning does any good given that drivers tail-gate?
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I thought that their aim was off, though I understand why they designed it that way as a self-contained device. If it had the same display capabilities, as simply a display that an android app could cast to, even without a camera or anything else that would have been fantastic and I'd have bought one in a heartbeat. People are dumb - it was the built-in camera and app that they object to, because it was always there, even though they know that every smartphone being carried around can do the same thing already. Google should have just left those features off.
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I don't understand how a early radar warning system would help you with your safety. It's not like we're travelling at Mach 2 where a few km's would would only be seconds away. As a cyclist you have 'visual contact' with the vehicle long before you encounter it.
I still think my holograph idea could be the answer
I still think my holograph idea could be the answer
But is this idea workable? Some more arithmetic: The sensor range needs to be at least 54 meters, which is a major technoogy leap for small, low-cost sonar transmitters. If you were going to do this, radar or lidar would be better choices, or possibly just a passive or active video sensor. V2V digital communication would most likely be best, so we are back to the beacon discussion again. Except now the beacon on your bicycle needs to receive and process information, not just broadcast "I'm a bike and I'm here!"
So just in terms of sensor tech I think sonar is out. Radar, video, lidar and V2V digital should be seen as on the table. If the V2V is in your phone or a cyclocomputer/navi with a big display like an iPhone, Wahoo, or Garmin, it can show you a birds-eye view cartoon illustrating you being overtaken by a red object coming up your backside, for example.
I think this idea is workable. Might want to have a wheel dyno to power the V2V/display device ... it will be communicating quite frequently.
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Wow, Bill, I didn't know about #4 , Bill!
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Say you're pedaling on the road (not the shoulder) at 15 mph on a 2 lane. A car comes up behind going 45 mph, for a closing speed of 30 mph. Say you need 5 seconds of warning time to understand there is a hazard, turn to confirm it identify it, decide to move over to the shoulder and do that before the car comes roaring past you. You then need to be warned 5 seconds early. At 30 mph, the detection distance is about 54 meters (13.5 m/s times 5 seconds). I'm not going to try to design the warning now. But this is generally how such an early warning system could help you with your safety.
But is this idea workable? Some more arithmetic: The sensor range needs to be at least 54 meters, which is a major technoogy leap for small, low-cost sonar transmitters. If you were going to do this, radar or lidar would be better choices, or possibly just a passive or active video sensor. V2V digital communication would most likely be best, so we are back to the beacon discussion again. Except now the beacon on your bicycle needs to receive and process information, not just broadcast "I'm a bike and I'm here!"
So just in terms of sensor tech I think sonar is out. Radar, video, lidar and V2V digital should be seen as on the table. If the V2V is in your phone or a cyclocomputer/navi with a big display like an iPhone, Wahoo, or Garmin, it can show you a birds-eye view cartoon illustrating you being overtaken by a red object coming up your backside, for example.
I think this idea is workable. Might want to have a wheel dyno to power the V2V/display device ... it will be communicating quite frequently.
But is this idea workable? Some more arithmetic: The sensor range needs to be at least 54 meters, which is a major technoogy leap for small, low-cost sonar transmitters. If you were going to do this, radar or lidar would be better choices, or possibly just a passive or active video sensor. V2V digital communication would most likely be best, so we are back to the beacon discussion again. Except now the beacon on your bicycle needs to receive and process information, not just broadcast "I'm a bike and I'm here!"
So just in terms of sensor tech I think sonar is out. Radar, video, lidar and V2V digital should be seen as on the table. If the V2V is in your phone or a cyclocomputer/navi with a big display like an iPhone, Wahoo, or Garmin, it can show you a birds-eye view cartoon illustrating you being overtaken by a red object coming up your backside, for example.
I think this idea is workable. Might want to have a wheel dyno to power the V2V/display device ... it will be communicating quite frequently.
Kind of reminds me of the story of NASA spending millions into developing a pen that works in zero gravity back in the 60's space race. The Russians used a #2 pencil. Don't know if it's true, but it's a funny story.
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Meanwhile, work continues on my water-bottle-airbag design.
Note to self: Don't carry the prototypes in front pants pocket, again...
Note to self: Don't carry the prototypes in front pants pocket, again...
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Or I can do the same thing with a helmet-mounted mirror for $6 from eBay vs the Garmin unit for $200.
Kind of reminds me of the story of NASA spending millions into developing a pen that works in zero gravity back in the 60's space race. The Russians used a #2 pencil. Don't know if it's true, but it's a funny story.
Kind of reminds me of the story of NASA spending millions into developing a pen that works in zero gravity back in the 60's space race. The Russians used a #2 pencil. Don't know if it's true, but it's a funny story.
Thing about electronic solutions, the manufacturing cost will be about $5 each max, in high volume. The "zillions and billions" isn't the whole story. I don't intend to make one of the gadgets I was daydreaming about.
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Just do something to make electric cars audible. They are hard to hear on the road as a cyclist. Heck, even as a pedestrian....I was walking the dog and one backed out of a driveway obscured by a long shrub and I didn't hear it. Nearly hit my dog. If I can see it and I can hear it, I can usually avoid it.
#64
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Kind of reminds me of the story of NASA spending millions into developing a pen that works in zero gravity back in the 60's space race. The Russians used a #2 pencil. Don't know if it's true, but it's a funny story.
I was outside doing some work on the fence when something reminded me of this thread.
Pencil leads break all the time. It could be hazardous to have pencil bits and shavings floating around in a space capsule.
#65
C*pt*i* Obvious
I've lost track of the amount of times I've been struck from behind by two wheeled motorists, worst one was a hit & run, leaving me with a tacoed rear wheel.
I've always been able to spot larger vehicles likes cars, trucks and buses, these zombie scooters are another menace entirely.
#66
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My best and most reliable safety feature is to ride like a drunk person.
I first noticed cars would pass me with great care and with a huge amount of space when I was riding around on my 30mph electric unicycle. For those having not ridden one, electric unicycles are absurdly unstable, and since they have no trailing wheel to push against, any change of direction is accompanied by an amazing amount of lean. Basically, at speeds greater than 22mph you are all over your lane with a wobbling wheel. Experienced riders do not notice this but riding with a group of others it looks incredibly dangerous (and is; I once counted six crashes between the three of us over the course of one ride, with blood! Great fun!).
To demonstrate and ascertain that being unpredictable is the safest method you can do in regards to drivers, simply get on your bike, sans helmet, and ride in the most energy intensive unpredictable way possible. Inappropriately stand on your pedals, weave all over your lane, turn your head from side to side often, and throw in some hands free riding, while waving and pointing for good measure. Humans, when confronted with the unpredictable, automatically become cautious.
All this talk about mirrors, equipment, and other ultimately useless behavior matters not one iota if you cannot change a driver's behavior to be more cautious towards you. Even wearing a helmet makes drivers more likely to buzz you because they figure you're safer in a crash (risk compensation, but you're the chump).
Also, if a driver's window is down I almost always chat with them at lights. Never about the traffic, but something random like where's the nearest pet store. I figure since I have a very predictable schedule I'll eventually encounter every driver on my commute, ad they'll be less likely to run over my Lycra clad as-s if they are positively pre disposed towards me.
I first noticed cars would pass me with great care and with a huge amount of space when I was riding around on my 30mph electric unicycle. For those having not ridden one, electric unicycles are absurdly unstable, and since they have no trailing wheel to push against, any change of direction is accompanied by an amazing amount of lean. Basically, at speeds greater than 22mph you are all over your lane with a wobbling wheel. Experienced riders do not notice this but riding with a group of others it looks incredibly dangerous (and is; I once counted six crashes between the three of us over the course of one ride, with blood! Great fun!).
To demonstrate and ascertain that being unpredictable is the safest method you can do in regards to drivers, simply get on your bike, sans helmet, and ride in the most energy intensive unpredictable way possible. Inappropriately stand on your pedals, weave all over your lane, turn your head from side to side often, and throw in some hands free riding, while waving and pointing for good measure. Humans, when confronted with the unpredictable, automatically become cautious.
All this talk about mirrors, equipment, and other ultimately useless behavior matters not one iota if you cannot change a driver's behavior to be more cautious towards you. Even wearing a helmet makes drivers more likely to buzz you because they figure you're safer in a crash (risk compensation, but you're the chump).
Also, if a driver's window is down I almost always chat with them at lights. Never about the traffic, but something random like where's the nearest pet store. I figure since I have a very predictable schedule I'll eventually encounter every driver on my commute, ad they'll be less likely to run over my Lycra clad as-s if they are positively pre disposed towards me.
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