iLumaware Shield TL interacts with cars’ radar to prevent accidents, creators claim

iLumaware Shield TL interacts with cars’ radar to prevent accidents, creators claim

Shield TL enhances radar signal on vehicles with CAS systems

The iLumaware Shield TL helps alert cars with CAS technology to cyclists in the road — and, ideally, can help prevent accidents

Courtesy iLumaware

Ben Delaney

Published: October 14, 2016 at 10:00 am
The iLumaware Shield TL helps alert cars with CAS technology to cyclists in the road — and, ideally, can help prevent accidents - Courtesy iLumaware
The concept of the Shield TL is to effectively make a bike about ten times larger in the ‘view’ of a vehicle’s radar, giving the driver and the vehicle more time to react - Courtesy iLumaware
Initial prototypes look like a large tail light — and the Shield TL has a tail light — but the device works by enhancing the radar signal of vehicles equipped with Collision Avoidance System (CAS) technology - Courtesy iLumaware

While Garmin's Varia Rearview Radar alerts cyclists to cars coming up from behind, the iLumaware Shield TL alerts cars to cyclists in the road — and, ideally, can prevent accidents by alerting the driver or initiating braking. That is the vision of creator Chris Mogridge, who is launching the Shield TL on KickStarter this month.

Initial prototypes look like a large tail light — and the Shield TL has a tail light — but the device works by enhancing the radar signal of vehicles equipped with Collision Avoidance System (CAS) technology.

iLumaware claims that more than 470 car models sold in the US this year come with CAS. CAS can prompt a vehicle to brake when it senses a large object in its immediate path.

“Four years ago my friend and now one of my business partners, Alexis Stobbe, who is a former F-18 fighter pilot, had the idea of applying radar technology to improve cycling safety,” Mogridge told BikeRadar. “We were both aware of the upcoming shift in automobile technology with the introduction of collision prevention technologies like Automatic Braking and Brake Assist systems. All of these collision-prevention technologies rely on the use of radar technologies that [are] installed in a range of places on the vehicle.”

The concept of the Shield TL is to effectively make a bike about ten times larger in the ‘view’ of a vehicle’s radar, giving the driver and the vehicle more time to react - Courtesy iLumaware

“Both of us are avid cyclists and given my current experience in the industry, Alexis asked me if I thought this was a good idea,” Mogridge said. “I am pretty sure I dropped my beer because I instantly thought of a million different applications for this type of technology. At this point we had two recent ghost bikes [markers for where a rider has been killed – ed.] added to our community, so we both decided to pursue the idea in an effort to have a legitimate impact in the collision prevention space and restore confidence to people that enjoy cycling on the road.”

The concept of the Shield TL is to effectively make a bike about ten times larger in the ‘view’ of a vehicle’s radar, giving the driver and the vehicle more time to react.

Initial prototypes look like a large tail light — and the Shield TL has a tail light — but the device works by enhancing the radar signal of vehicles equipped with Collision Avoidance System (CAS) technology - Courtesy iLumaware

The tail light portion of the Shield TL runs at a claimed 80 lumens and is rechargeable via USB.

iLumaware is seeking US$70,000 on KickStarter to put the Shield TL into production.

Ben Delaney

Contributor

Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
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