Among hundreds of entries for the YD x KeyShot Design Challenge that asked participants to redesign the Envoy Helmet to make it safer, Jonathan Hatch’s redesign presented a clever feature – a pair of pull-tabs that allowed the helmet to split into two, making it easy for emergency medical technicians to easily and safely remove the headgear in the event of an emergency.
“My addition to the Envoy helmet concept is to improve safety for the user after an accident occurs”, Jonathan told Yanko Design. “Typically, removing an injured user’s helmet after an accident requires one EMT to stabilize the head and neck and another to cut the chin strap and pull the helmet off. The helmet removal often results in accidental repositioning of the head and neck, potentially causing additional injuries or taking up precious seconds during the rescue.”
By adding the EMT Removal Lock, the Envoy Helmet prioritizes wearer safety in virtually every scenario… even the unavoidable ones. The Envoy helmet with the EMT removal lock simplifies this procedure by allowing an EMT to split the helmet at a critical seam in seconds, all without applying any force or moving the head or neck. After the cap is separated, the user’s head remains safely cradled in the remaining shell.
Unanimously declared the Gold Winner by the YD x KeyShot Design Challenge Jury Panel, Jonathan also wins an Apple iPad along with a KeyShot Pro Licence.
Follow Yanko Design and KeyShot on Instagram to know about upcoming Design Challenges.
What’s better than sipping coffee from a Darth Vader helmet mug? Sipping coffee from a chrome-finish Darth Vader helmet mug. The Sith Lord’s black outfit is so shiny you could comb your hair in its reflection, but this mug is even more reflective thanks to its mirrored ceramic finish.
I like to imagine Vader walking around his Imperial Star Destroyer like Bill Lumbergh in Office Space, sipping coffee from this mug while micromanaging the crew about missing cover sheets on their Imperial TPS reports and asking them to come in and work on the Death Star II on the weekend.
If you like your coffee dark, like your favorite side of The Force, you can grab the Darth Vader chrome mug on Amazon (affiliate link) for $19.99.
A smart helmet designed for ergonomic comfort of the rider, and most of all, to ensure fresh air flow when riding through highly air polluted sections of the city.
Air pollution has become a serious health hazard in the last decade, and the problem seems to be only getting worse with over 1.4 billion vehicles on roads worldwide. This value is estimated to hit 2 billion by the year 2035. According to WHO, 90 percent of the world’s population is exposed to highly toxic air pollutants, resulting in over a million fatalities every year. This is exaggerated by the fact that physical activity is simply not there to counter the adverse effects of air pollution, and in fact, this alone contributes to 3.2 million fatalities annually. Of all the motorists on the streets, cyclists are at the most risk as they are exposed to air pollutants.
So how can cyclists be protected against inhalation of dangerous traffic fumes? Nathan Hassanali has the answer in the form of a hybrid helmet mask wearable. Christened Airban, the urban bike helmet aims to take on the unavoidable air pollution crisis. The advanced helmet sucks polluted air, filters it, and then beams pure air onto the fixed face shield that’s at a slight distance from the face. As the rider keeps moving forward, the air passes through the front vents on the front and enters the air channel. Simultaneously air is drawn from the rear via a small brushless fan that projects the air to the breathable position. Air entering the Airban helmet from both these channels is filtered through the HEPA filter which removes 99.97% of 0.3 μm particulates. The activated carbon layer eliminates any smoke, odors, or other pollutants – therefore, beaming the rider with clean air even in the most polluted environment.
The lightweight bike helmet frame is tailored for comfort with the head adjustment system and cushion padding. So you might ask, what drives this system? Well, there are rechargeable batteries on the rear, or the user can opt for a magnetically connected cable that pairs with a portable battery pack the size of a water bottle. So, bulk is not going to be an issue for the practicality of use. The user can holster it to the bike frame or put it under the saddle.
To give the helmet smart characteristics, it can be paired to the phone via an app. This helps detect the changes in speed and increases or decreases the airflow. For example, at the crossroads, the high exposure to air pollution will be negated by better filtering. On the other hand, on open stretches at high speeds, the fresh air flow is reduced through the fan vent. The GPS will also assist in determining the fan’s rpm for a constant flow of pure air.
Rémy Vicarini and his cat Cathode have made a name for themselves on the Internet. Not because his kitty does tricks or anything, but because Rémy likes to dress Cathode up in tiny, custom-made helmets. I’m not sure if they actually offer any protection, but it’s not like human cosplay armor does either.
Rémy designs a computer model of each helmet them outputs them on a 3D printer. They’re custom-sized to ensure a snug fit to Cathode’s little head. Of course, he makes holes in them for Cathode’s ears to poke out to keep them from getting bent – plus kitty just looks cooler that way.
Among his creations are a motorized Iron Man’s helmet, a bike helmet, an astronaut’s helmet, a motorcycle helmet, and a LEGO knight helmet. You can check out some more of Rémy and Cathode’s stylish headgear in the videos below:
A smart helmet for accident-prone city streets where spatial awareness is the difference between life and death situation!
More than 700 cyclists are killed every year by other motorists in the U.S. alone, and the graph hasn’t seen any significant drop in the last few years. This is a clear indication of the danger bicycle riders put themselves into every time they head to the streets – making them the most vulnerable participants in public traffic. Although self-driving cars and the level of safety in modern cars have evolved considerably, still bike riders are not being recognized by motorists in time to avert fatal accidents.
Thinkable Studio wants to curb this with an innovative helmet design that equips cyclists with their own set of spatial awareness tech to avoid accidents. Called the savAR helmet, this piece of bicycle accessory is loaded with augmented reality and artificial intelligence components to naïve the traditional helmet protection methods. The ever-evolving smart software of the helmet and the AR waveguide technology enhances the rider’s awareness of the crowded streets and other motorists nearby by quite a few notches.
With time the AI learns the riding behavior and in a way looks out for the rider with the 360-degree camera vision to the rescue. Even before an impending danger can turn ugly, the software anticipates the unusually fast approaching vehicle from any direction and alerts the cyclists to take the lifesaving action to avert any collision. The AI calculates the potential course of collision and the time to the impact. This is aided by the waveguide tech embedded in the visor of the helmet which gives the rider a full picture of the incoming dangerous vehicle. To enhance the warning systems’ capability, there are both visual display warnings and audio alarms via the embedded speakers.
To give other motorists a clear idea of what you a rider intend to do, there are ultra-bright LED turning signal lights and smart braking lights that can be activated via Bluetooth control and voice activations system. The smart helmet is compatible with phone or cycle computer to view all the stats, route maps, and other heads-up data that is important while riding. To take safety to the next level, savAR has embedded MIPS impact protection layer and ride recording capability for capturing any unfortunate incident as proof for later on.
Given the turban’s cultural and religious nature, Sikh motorcyclists are exempt from wearing helmets. The Tough Turban hopes to be a helmet-alternative, allowing wearers to protect their heads from impact.
The Tough Turban is a one-of-a-kind fabric with an open-source turban design that can be worn in any style. Unlike most turbans that are just made by wrapping/pleating/folding a cotton cloth multiple times around one’s head, the Tough Turban’s fabric is much more specialized, offering superior impact-resistance while looking just like a turban. Designed as a no-compromise solution, the turban allows Sikh riders to safely and confidently drive motorcycles, knowing that they’re safe.
The fabric comes with 3 internal layers that help cushion impact – a Dyneema layer, a flexible 3D-printed chainlink, and a non-Newtonian foam. On a weight-for-weight basis, Dyneema is up to 15x stronger than steel and 40% stronger than high-strength aramid fibers. It’s used to make bullet-resistant vests, armor, helmets, and even in panels on tanks to protect against stronger ballistic threats like anti-tank projectiles. Underneath it sits the 3D-printed chainlink-inspired armor, harking back to the use of chainlink headgear historically by Sikh warriors in battle – owing to its strength and flexibility. The third is a non-Newtonian foam that’s fluid and flexible but immediately hardens on impact, helping act as a tough barrier to protect the skull.
The Tough Turban comes as a folded piece of long fabric, allowing its wearer to don it in multiple styles. Turbans can change in shape and size depending on cultures, ancestry, festivals, or plain and simple age. Designed to accommodate any turban-style, the fabric gives the wearer the freedom to choose, and the Tough Turban website even has design blueprints for enthusiasts.
Created in collaboration with the Sikh Motorcycle Club of Ontario, the Tough Turban was designed by Zulu Alpha Kilo and Spark Innovations for Pfaff Harley-Davidson as a bid to bring the motorcycling world a step closer to inclusivity – something that has yet to be achieved across Canada. Helmet exemptions were first granted to turban-wearing riders in British Columbia and Manitoba in 1999. Close to 20 years later, in the fall of 2018, Ontario passed Bill 194, exempting Sikh motorcyclists from Ontario’s helmet laws. However, all other provinces in the country have failed to adopt similar legislation. Concerns about safety are most commonly cited in discussions about helmet exemptions, but 22 years of riding with turbans have yielded precisely zero fatalities among Canadian Sikh motorcyclists. The Tough Turban hopes to bridge that gap, working as a traditional cultural garb while fulfilling the need to protect oneself while riding a motorcycle.
Helmets are designed for protection, not prevention. A helmet gives you cushioning during impact… but it doesn’t help you avoid the impact in the first place. Designed to do both jobs, the TorchONE is a helmet that guards you as well as increases your visibility. With large removable curved lights integrated into the helmet’s front and back, the TorchONE helps you be seen in low-light settings.
The TorchONE hopes to alter a scary statistic around cycling. In 2019, 56,000 cyclists lost their lives worldwide, and an estimated 60-70% of them were during low-light conditions. By integrating lights right into the helmet, the TorchONE approaches this problem with a two-fold solution – Prevention and Protection. A finalist at the 2020 EuroBike Awards, the TorchONE boasts of a streamlined, aerodynamic design that weighs a mere 382 grams with large, highly visible, removable lights on the front and back. Designed to provide 360° visibility, these are the largest lights to ever be fitted onto a bike, ensuring that they’re sufficiently visible even in bad weather. Attach them when you need and the lights can run 24/7, detach them during the day and the helmet’s weight drops to an incredibly lightweight 266 grams.
The lightweight, ergonomic shell makes the TorchONE comfortable to wear at all times. 10 widened vents ensure proper airflow, keeping your head cool, especially in the warm seasons or climates. The vents on the front and back double up as mounting areas for the lights, which just snap on with a satisfying push. Chargeable via MicroUSB, the front and back light panels are the largest to ever be integrated into a helmet, prioritizing visibility over everything else. The lights come with four lighting modes too, ensuring that even when obscured by obstacles, they remain visible and prevent any accidents. With this two-pronged approach of prevention and protection, the TorchONE hopes to make bicycling stylish and safe. The helmet comes in four colors, with free shipping to the US and UK.
The TorchOne helmet for is everyone, in all seasons and all weathers and with unique large removable 360°, 24/7/365 lighting displays.
Weighing in at just 266 grams without lights and 382 grams with lighting attached, the TorchONE is the lightest helmet in its category, with the largest light display currently available.
The 10 widened vents and aerodynamic design will be appreciated by the frequent and more dedicated riders and will provide essential ventilation for warmer climates and seasons.
The TorchONE lenses are fully rechargeable, using standard Micro USB3 connectivity to ensure global compatibility. The lighting operates in 4 modes and final testing is taking place to assess longevity in each of the four lighting modes.
Key Features
Removable LED Lighting Panels.
Largest Light Panel Available.
360-degree Lighting Panels.
4 Light Options.
Road Testing
Tested in the city with Lanre – Lanre commutes to work and uses his scooter to support his growing photography passion. They caught up with him in St Paul’s area of London to talk about his role in London and how he has been coping with maintaining his routine as a Key Worker during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tested in the country with Indy – Indy lives in Dorset and has a very different style of commute and exercise route on her bike. The TorchONE has been designed for all environments on and off-road, in and out of the city so we spent some time in her local woods to test the helmet in a more challenging terrain.
Tested in the town with Luiz – A hardcore commuter, Luiz uses his one-wheel and Brompton bike to travel around London all year-round. A gentle giant, Luiz has a new-born which keeps him around his local North London borough.
Smart Speakers are seldom designed to be trophy elements. With their unassuming design and fabric clad, they’re BUILT to blend into your home decor, being useful only when wanted. This 3D printed stand, on the other hand, turns your smart speaker into a pop-culture collectible worth showing off!
Say hello to the Mandalorian smart speaker holder for the 4th Generation Amazon Echo Dot. Inspired by the Star Wars spin-off series, the smart-speaker holder comes 3D printed by Etsy shop Slic3DArt, quite perfectly resembling the Mandalorian helmet. Place your spherical Amazon Echo Dot within its head cavity and you’ve officially got yourself a trophy-head worth showcasing on your mantelpiece or coffee table!
The purpose of the Mandalorian smart-speaker holder is purely aesthetic. It doesn’t enhance the speaker’s functions but doesn’t impair them either (it does, however, block the light ring at the base). I just wish Alexa came with a Mandalorian voice option!
Looking for something to spruce up your otherwise boring 4th-generation Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker with a little Star Wars flair? How about this 3-D printed Mandalorian helmet holder made and sold by Etsy shop Slic3DArt? Obviously, it will go perfect with the Baby Yoda 3rd generation Amazon Echo Dot holder you already own. Just think of all the fun they’ll have talking to each other.
The Mandalorian mask is a single 3D printed piece and costs $29. The only thing that would make it better is if there was a Mandalorian voice option for Amazon Echo Dots. Now that’s something I’d be willing to part with my Galactic credits for.
I used to own a smart speaker, but I got rid of it after getting paranoid that it was listening all the time. Plus whenever my wife and I would ask it a question to settle an argument it would always side with her. “The truth” she likes to call it.
There’s a pretty clever reason for why the 902s helmet is designed the way it is. Created as perhaps the only helmet that can be worn over existing headgear like a baseball cap or a trucker cap, the 902s combines safety with style. How, you ask? Well, think about this… If you’ve ever worn a helmet, you’re familiar with the term helmet-hair. It’s when your headgear compresses your hair, ruining its shape. Now, all that’s fine when you’ve got the helmet on, but the trouble starts when you take it off only to look into your motorbike’s side mirror to see the atrocious dome that is your hair. The 902s cleverly circumvents that problem because it doesn’t sit on your head, it sits on your cap (which you don’t need to take off). Just slide the helmet over your cap when you’re riding, and take it off when you’re done. The cap stays in place, and your overall appearance remains unaffected.
The 902s works with a variety of cap styles (you can wear it without one too, btw) and integrates the cap’s visor or bill into your helmet as you wear it. The helmet sports a protective PolyCarbonate outer shell, with an EPS foam lining on the inside for padded protection. Its insides as well as its outer edges account for your head, but also keep enough space to comfortably fit a cap in. This means you can slide your 902s directly on your snapback with zero resistance, giving you a helmet that protects, but still respects your sense of style when you’re done with your ride. Adjustable knobs on the back let you calibrate your helmet’s fit, while two sizes (medium and large) cover a variety of head sizes and types.
While the cap-integrating design is by far the 902s’ most interesting design feature, the helmet comes with a non-cap variant too, for the more traditionally inclined. Built-in a single piece with its own integrated visor, the 902s Armour variant is for people who just want a stylish helmet that looks good while protecting you. The Persona variant, however, offers the unique ability to combine helmet and cap, to give your protective headgear a custom touch of personal style. Not to mention the fact that when you take the helmet off, your cap stays on, keeping you looking great no matter what!
Created as perhaps the only helmet that can be worn over existing headgear like a baseball cap or a trucker cap, the 902s combines safety with style.
Stay Safe
The helmet is manufactured using the in-Mold method. The inner part is crafted from EPS foam and the polycarbonate outer shell is bonded together with it using heat during the molding stage.
The 902s are manufactured in the in-Mold method. The inner EPS foam and the polycarbonate outer shell are bonded by heat during the molding stage so that they are not separated even by strong impacts.
Stay Stylish
There are two different urban styles available, Armour (Fixed) & Persona (Separable).
Armour – Designed like a ball cap, trendy design with a shade and protection.
Persona – This separable helmet is for those who regularly wear a hat. Simply wear the helmet over the hat without having to replace it.
Stay Comfortable
Enjoy your ride with more safety by adjusting (loosen or tighten) the size of the helmet.
