If you were asked to think of things that could be rendered obsolete by AI, a bicycle radar system probably wouldn't be at the top of your list, but if Survue performs as well as its makers claim, it could soon be.
Existing radar systems, manufactured by companies such as Garmin and Trek, are designed to warn cyclists of vehicles approaching rapidly from behind. Typically, they emit radar pulses that bounce off vehicles within a certain distance behind the bike. The radar pulses take the form of a rear-facing module mounted on the seatpost or saddle.
The module receives and analyzes those echoes to determine how far away each vehicle is and how fast it is approaching. Users are warned of potentially dangerous vehicles by an audio alarm on their wirelessly connected cycling computer or smartphone, and are also provided with a visual display on the screen.
But Maine-based entrepreneur Josh Fox says those systems place too much emphasis on the speed of approaching vehicles and don't take other factors into account. That's where Survue comes in.
Fox first came up with the idea for the device seven years ago, when he was often pulling his young daughter in a bike trailer on bike rides and also coaching a high school robotics team that was exploring using computer vision techniques to estimate distances to objects. Flash forward to 2024 and Survue has landed on Kickstarter.
Savu
Radarless devices use cameras and AI algorithms to not only detect the position and speed of vehicles approaching from behind, but also determine the type of vehicle. and Predicted trajectory.
If a vehicle is determined to pose a collision risk, the user is alerted both through an audible alarm on the device and via an (optional) iOS/Android app on their handlebar-mounted smartphone, which also displays the vehicle's speed, position and trajectory relative to the bike.
At the same time, Survue automatically records video of approaching vehicles to an included MicroSD card in case the footage is needed for legal proceedings. The device also rapidly flashes its built-in 80-lumen tail light to alert motorists to the presence of a cyclist.
Savu
Survue weighs 125 g (4.4 oz), is said to last for six hours on a single charge, and can reportedly detect vehicles from up to 110 meters (361 ft) away. Assuming production begins, one will be available for a donation of $215, with a projected retail price of $329.
Of course, Fox isn't the only one to have come up with the idea of an AI-based rear-vehicle warning system: US startup Velo.AI already sells a larger, heavier dual taillight called the Copilot for $399, but it's currently out of stock. AlpsAlpine also makes a device called the RS 1000, which is currently unavailable.
Survue is introduced in the following video:
Survue: Smart bike lights for safe and secure riding
Source: Kickstarter, Survue
