Rider Safety · 2018
Steering-linked auxiliary lighting
An early rider-safety prototype using a mechanical steering trigger to illuminate the direction of travel.
Rider-Safety Origin
Litellight began with a simple observation: a fixed bicycle or e-bike headlamp leaves the inside of a turn poorly illuminated. The prototype links steering motion to an auxiliary light, extending the visible area through bends and low-light manoeuvres.
Mechanical Control
When the steering column turns beyond the designed threshold, a mechanical contact completes the auxiliary-light circuit. The original prototype uses a threshold of approximately 15 degrees and requires no microcontroller.
Simple, Durable, Serviceable
Direct switching keeps the system understandable and easy to maintain.
The original design favoured proven durability and strong penetration in rain and fog.
Beam direction and coverage were refined through reflector selection and repeated adjustment.
Eight Development Steps
Beam Evaluation
The prototype was evaluated indoors, on paved roads and on unpaved surfaces at dusk and night. The development record includes beam-angle and illumination-distance measurements, together with observations on surface reflectivity and reflector performance.
Future Direction
The original project identifies clear extension paths: lens-based beam shaping, combined fog and cornering-light functions, electronic control and integration with broader rider-safety systems.
Connected knowledge
Related work
