A material with
electrochromatic properties is generally defined as
something that changes color when an electric
current passes through it.
These Akuma guys
have figured it out, and there are no wires or
anything that I can see in the visor, other than a
small lead that plugs in to the existing Akuma IPS
(Integrated Power System) that also powers the LED
lights in front and back.
Push a small button in
back of the chin bar of the helmet and the visor
automagically goes from clear to dark tint! It
takes less than a minute to get dark, and much
quicker to become clear again.
I took some
video and will process it and post it below; I think
it captures the electrochromatic visor turning from
clear to dark and back again.
Can't wait to get one to try out!
And -- best of all --
the electrochromatic visor will retrofit any Akuma
helmet with the IPS!
More news from Akuma
includes new buttons to turn the front and rear LEDs on and off.
The old rocker switches are gone, replaced by very
thin and light weight membrane buttons in back of
the chin bar. One for the LED in front; one
for the LEDs in the rear (which now also can be set
to flash on and off) and the third for the
electrochromatic visor.
But wait: that's not
all! The Akuma boffins "have been up to no
good", as they say, and that's for sure -- they have partnered
with Collett (say "Col-LETT") Communications and
will be releasing a special Bluetooth intercom that
-- yes -- also plugs in to the IPS!
They claim
up to 300 hours standby time and the Collett
Bluetooth intercom also has a small antenna
attached, with up to a claimed 2 mile bike-to-bike
talk distance!
The Collett intercom
itself is very lightweight. But what about
speakers? They're built in to the Akuma
helmet, and although I didn't get a chance to
inspect them up close, when I ran my fingers up and
down inside the ear pocket, I didn't feel a thing.
They're supposed to be some type of special
speaker...
So let's see: you can
have a very cool helmet with a unique graphic
design, with an LED flashlight built in to the
front, with red LED on/off and blinking lights in
the rear AND an electrochromatic visor AND a
Bluetooth intercom, all powered off a single
rechargeable on board battery pack! How cool
is that!
But wait -- that's not
all! Yep, there's more: Akuma also now has the
world's first electroluminescent helmet! OK,
so what's electroluminescence? It's defined as
something that emits light when an electric current
passes through it. Sort of a cousin to the
electrochromatic property, I guess.
Also powered by the
on-board Akuma IPS, these helmets have unique
graphics on the outside that are placed under the
clear coat. Flip the switch and the graphic
takes on a ghostly glow!
The Akuma guys said they
have much, much more up their sleeve (I'm hoping
maybe an electrically heated anti-fog visor that's
also powered off the IPS?). It's hard to
believe they're releasing all of this at once,
but....
And wait, there's still
more!! They also have a women's flip-up
helmet! I don't know what it will be called,
but Akuma called in a group of women and basically
told them to help their engineers design a helmet.
Whatever they wanted, they got, with no questions
asked.
The photos below in the
poor lighting of the Indiana Convention Center
certainly don't do any of the products justice, especially the women's flip up. The graphics
are very nice, sort of jewel-like with a 3D look
that appears to be tiny jewels embedded under the
clear coat. This should be a big hit. It
also includes the IPS system and a front LED light.
Stay tuned -- they
promised we'd get some of these cool products for a
more detailed review!
wBWVideo:Akuma Electrochromatic Visor
Akuma Stealth with Collett Bluetooth Intercom.
Yellow arrow indicates wire that
is plugged into the IPS for power.
New membrane switches for the LED lights and
electrochromatic visor.
Akuma women's flip-up helmet
Rear of the women's flip-up; you can barely see the
tiny sparkly thingies up top.
