Polaris helmet patent reveals system that tells you when to take a riding break

The idea of a smart helmet isn't new. We've seen everything from built-in cameras and head-up displays to crash detection and Bluetooth systems over the years. Yet despite plenty of promises, most riders still seem happy with a good helmet and a comms unit stuck to the side. Polaris, however, appears to have something more ambitious in mind.

A newly published patent application from the American powersports giant outlines a helmet capable of communicating directly with a vehicle while monitoring the rider's condition. And while much of the coverage so far has focused on the technology itself, the more interesting question is what Polaris could eventually do with the information it collects.

According to the patent, sensors within the helmet could be used to track indicators associated with rider fatigue, distraction or impairment. The helmet would then communicate with the vehicle, allowing warnings to be issued if the system detects that the rider's condition is deteriorating.

On the face of it, that sounds like a logical extension of safety technology already found on modern motorcycles. Manufacturers have spent the last decade adding increasingly sophisticated rider aids, from lean-sensitive ABS and traction control to radar-assisted cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.

The difference here is that those systems monitor the motorcycle. Polaris appears to be exploring technology that monitors the rider.

And that's where things get interesting – or scary, depending on which way you look at it!

The patent suggests a future where the bike, helmet and rider effectively become part of the same connected system. Rather than waiting for a mistake to happen, the technology could potentially identify the warning signs beforehand and encourage the rider to stop, rest or take action. And that’s just for starters. Should this type of tech actually ever make it to production and widespread adoption, in the years that follow it could go even further.

Imagine the scene: A bleary-eyed Toad steps from his front door and toward his bike for an early morning commute to the big smoke for meetings. On placing my Arai Mind Reader 3000 Mk III on my bonce, the integrated electronics deem I’m too tired to ride safely. The helmet and bike have a chat and lock out the bike’s ignition, preventing me from taking the trip to see my boss.

The disappointment on imaginary-Toad's face is palpable.

It’s a far-fetched story, sure. However, it’s not totally out of this world. But the bigger question is whether motorcyclists would welcome that level of intervention.

I’m thinking not.

Driver monitoring systems are becoming increasingly common in the car world, with cameras and sensors tracking everything from eye movement to driver attention. Motorcycle riders have traditionally been less enthusiastic about technology that appears to take control away from the person behind the bars.

That's not to say the idea won't catch on. Traction control, cornering ABS and electronic rider aids all faced resistance when they first appeared, yet they're now standard equipment on many bikes, and for the most part, riders don’t give them a second thought.

It's also worth remembering that a patent application doesn't guarantee production. Manufacturers file hundreds of patents that never reach dealerships, and there is no indication that Polaris is preparing to launch a consumer-ready smart helmet anytime soon.

Even so, the filing offers an interesting glimpse into how manufacturers see the future of rider safety developing.

The next big step may not be a motorcycle that knows what the tyres are doing. It could be a motorcycle that knows what the rider is doing, too.

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