Backtracker Helps Bikers Keep From Being Rear-Ended

iKubu has created something that just might save a biker’s life. Called the Backtracker, the device notifies you how fast and how close cars are approaching behind you and it reacts by flashing a light and telling the rider they are about to get hit.

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The founders describe it as a notification system for riders and drivers. “It gives you the speed and distance of rear-approaching vehicles, and alerts motorists to your position via increasingly frequent light pulses,” said Franz Struwig. The system includes a radar sensor for the bike and a notifier for the rider. Cars approaching from behind are signaled by a slowly moving white light while fast-moving cars are signaled by an urgent blinking light.

The team is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa and has been working on computer vision systems for a while. This is their first biking product. They seem to be doing everything right and it will be interesting to see how well they do on Dragon Innovation’s platform.

The team is looking for $226,000 to complete the build and will ship in December. Early birds will pay $149 while the actual product will cost $199. Given that I haven’t seen these on the market yet anywhere, it could be a hit.