A new smartphone app from Yamaha gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “motor mouth”.
Forget your expensive engine diagnostics, this phone software analyses sounds and operating environments to enable bike engines to “speak” to their owners and technicians.
RevTranslator converts engine sounds into computer-generated speeches using a database of over 100 million phrases. Using additional factors such as time of day and weather, it assesses operational status to convey the engine’s “feelings”. Example phrases, with a distinctly Japanese (or should that be Chinese) flavour, include: “Running is my happiness”, “Give me a break, will you?” and “Let me go along with you until the end of the world”.
“RevTranslator enables customers to take a fresh view of their engines,” said Yusuke Tsunemoto, who led the app development team for Yamaha. “Although the app is meant to be entertaining, customers can use it to better understand the condition of their Yamaha motorcycles.”
The app – available at App Store and Google Play for free (data charges may apply) – was inspired by the brand slogan, “Revs your Heart,” which expresses Yamaha Motor’s desire to provide customers with joyful and exciting experiences.
While using the app, users accumulate points that can be used to unlock digital mascots and other exclusive content related to Yamaha products worldwide.