The Quin Pod is one of those devices that you want to have, but hope that you never have to use. Quin CEO Ani Surabhi came up with the idea after a friend came off his bike on a remote road in India and lay injured and undiscovered for nine hours. It’s a tiny little box of electronics that fits into a specially shaped cavity in a motorcycle (or cycle, ski, equestrian, construction…) helmet and can detect when an incident occurs, automatically contacting the emergency services providing crucial location information, as well as data about the severity of the impact. The box of tricks is small and lightweight, but packs in an array of sensors (accelerometer, gyroscopes, temperature) in order to process a wide range of data and avoid false positives, so it doesn’t call the cavalry when the user simply drops their helmet. In the future, data from Quin-recorded incidents will be able to provide helmet designers with real-life impact data, showing what actually happens in an incident, leading to improved and more effective products. To date, Quin claims its kit has detected more than 8000 “dangerous events” worldwide.
The Pod connects to a smartphone app via Bluetooth and uses this link to message the emergency contacts if needed. The app also has a subscription option which adds the ability to send crash data direct to the ambulance services of up to 32 countries so that paramedics have knowledge of the potential head injuries before they even arrive at the crash site.
In order for this all to work, the Pod needs to be fitted seamlessly into a helmet, so Quin has teamed up with cycle and motorcycle helmet manufacturer O’Neal to produce a range of enduro and adventure motorcycle helmets that have a Quin Pod integrated into the shell. The Pod fits into a housing in the helmet’s EPS liner, with a small clear window in the outer shell allowing the user to see the Pod’s LED light to check that it is operational. It is waterproof and dustproof, and the battery (which is rechargeable via a USB-C socket) lasts for up to 60 hours. It doesn’t need to be switched on or off – it detects when the helmet is being worn and automatically awakens.
The Quin Pod has obvious advantages for those who ride roads less travelled – whether that is trekking across the Sahara, riding the lanes of Dartmoor or traversing the backroads of Europe – where having an unobtrusive guardian angel in their helmet will provide peace of mind. But other, less adventurous riders, such as commuters out and about in the small hours when traffic can be minimal and a car may not pass a stricken rider for 15 or 20 minutes, will also benefit.
The price of an O’Neal helmet depends on the model and spec, with prices starting from £144, with a Quin Pod to fit into any of them costing £117 SRP. The optional monthly subscription service is £4.99 per month, with discounts available for longer-term commitments.
O’Neal; www.oneal.eu
Quin; www.quinwithin.com