It’s been more than five years now (a server wasn’t even here) since SMN spoke for the first time about the project I was working on Aegis Rider. Even then, the ultimate goal sought by this Regensdorf-based brand was very clear: to develop the world’s first augmented reality motorcycle helmet system.
Founded in 2020 as a spin-off of the ETH Zurich Computer Vision Laboratory through the ETH Pioneer Fellowship program, the company has since been designing the hardware, electronics and software for this innovative technology. In the words of Simon HeckerCEO and founder of the company: “We set out to create something that didn’t exist: an augmented reality system that belongs on a motorcycle, not one borrowed from another industry.”
The Aegis Rider helmet is now a reality
In 2023 we heard again about the Aegis Rider 3D HUD and everything indicated that it was very close to entering production. However, it was not until May of this year when the company finally decided to begin the manufacturing and marketing process of the model. Built on the shell of the Nexx X.WST3 with ECE 22.06 certificationthe real protagonist here is the display module AR Optics that accompanies him.
Magnetic glasses weighing 75 grams that are responsible for adding the head-up display when the pilot decides to activate it. Together, an AR Vision Companion smartphone app (iOS and Android) manages pairing, calibration and vehicle profiles.
The main innovation of Aegis Rider is the space anchor
This is perhaps one of the primary aspects of the Aegis Rider augmented reality system, since it is the motorcycle itself, rather than the driver’s head, that serves as the frame of reference. Navigation arrows are placed at real GPS coordinates and appear at real intersections as the pilot approaches them.
“Vehicle data (speed, navigation directions, calls, music, notifications) is anchored to the motorcycle in 3D space, leaving the rider’s natural field of vision free to scan for hazards”they explain from the brand. Unlike competing helmet displays, which are fixed to the head and do not take into account the orientation of the helmet, spatial tethering precisely makes augmented reality truly augmented rather than superimposed.
Regarding what differentiates the Aegis Rider screen from the rest of the systems currently marketed, Hecker himself states: “The most common mistake is to call it a head-up display. A head-up display moves with your head; our system understands where the motorcycle and the road are, and adapts the content to them. That’s the fundamental difference of the product.”
Main specifications and price of the Aegis Rider
The complete pack to be able to enjoy Aegis Rider technology consists of the Aegis Rider Vision helmeton the one hand, and AR Optics and application for another. In addition, the brand offers us the possibility of purchasing the module Pro Box. This one, installed under the seat, replaces the phone as a vehicle sensor with high precision positioning. In total, adding the price of the three products we will have to pay a final figure of 1,769 euros:
- Aegis Rider Vision: 949 euros
- Pro-Box: 170 euros
- AR Optics: 650 euros
The total weight of the set is about two kilogramssomething reasonable taking into account the general weight gain to which all those models adapted to the demanding ECE 22.06 regulations have been subjected (between 200 and 300 g with respect to the previous approval). Having said that, we are left with Simon Hecker’s last reflection regarding this type of technologies for the future:
“We believe the next decade of motorcycling will be marked by the availability of technology designed specifically for riders, and we intend for Aegis Rider to lead the way.” For more information and details about the Aegis Rider augmented reality 3D HUD helmet, visit its official website.
