Los Angeles-based OWLFS has designed a motorcycle helmet-mounted dashcam that “is on a mission to make your next motorbike ride safer and more fun.” That’s an ambitious goal to strive to attain, and the start-up seems to be on the right path to reaching it.
Revan is currently crowdfunding on KickStarter, with an estimated delivery date set for December 2020. In the first 24 hours of the campaign going live, it had already secured the needed funds to go into production, with those who placed pre-orders getting a $300 discount on the final $999 retail price. As of the time of writing, the campaign still has 22 more days to go.
That kind of money isn’t too much considering what Revan promises to do: deliver a complete product that improves riders’ safety by doing away with blind spots, and that includes extra fun options like livestreaming and sharing on social media, GPS tracking and group calling.
The Revan team is comprised of former Samsung engineers and this particular bike helmet-mounted dashcam has been in the works for some time. It actually comprises two wide-angle cameras, a front- and a rear-facing one, offering a 286-degree angle (143-degree angle on each camera) and 1080p full HD footage, an integrated Head Up Display (HUD) system situated in the lower right hand corner of the helmet so as to not compromise visibility, and a wireless remote that can be placed on either handlebar for quick access.
Photo: OWLFS
The Revan dashcam is easy to use and easy to set up, and is aerodynamic. It comes with two lightweight batteries with 7000 mAh of power, promising 12 hours of safe riding on a single charge. The remote control offers access to all the features without the need to take the hands off the handlebars or the eyes off the road.
“The individual buttons on the remote control provide tactile feedback that make it easier to operate the HUD without distractions at high speeds,” the Revan team says.
However, to make sure no time is wasted in reaching out for the remote and to ultimately improve response times in case of an emergency, the rear camera on Revan can also be activated by motion gestures.
Revan comes with its own app, and riders can activate the dashcam’s sensitivity to gestures there. This means a simple nod of the head turns on the rear camera and sends a live feed on to the HUD, offering the rider instant and high-quality footage of what’s coming from behind.
Photo: OWLFS
Though designed with the goal of improving riders’ safety, Revan also includes fun stuff, like the possibility to make group calls, listening to music or podcasts, or sharing footage of the ride on social media (also through the accompanying app.) Bikers can record the entire journey if they want, use GPS tracking to create tour maps, or have access to a wide variety of metrics.
New features like real-time streaming and navigation will be included at a later time.
“As finalists of the Hyundai and Kia incubator program, our team has access to the best manufacturing techniques and resources to bring our vision of ultimate 2-wheel safety to life,” the Revan team says in a press release.
Photo: OWLFS
Revan has been field-tested over 3,000 miles, and contributors on KickStarter are told results were good enough to allow the team to boast of having designed “the safest” helmet-mounted dashcam on the market. Revan claims to be better than a regular smart helmet because it’s got a longer battery life and a better angle thanks to its two cameras, which does away with blind-spots.
However, as with all KickStarter campaigns, those who choose to pledge should do so at their own risk. Revan is scheduled to go into production after the campaign ends, with an estimated delivery date set for the end of the year.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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