An average of ten incidents involving a horse and vehicle on the road are reported each day in the UK (BHS, 2023). The Salus E-Helmet is a smart helmet designed to improve the safety of horse riders on the road. The product focuses on two key areas of improving rider safety. Firstly, Salus reduces the likelihood of a dangerous event occurring. The product utilises a GPS tracking wrist band to communicate with vehicle users to provide important safety notifications when a horse and rider are nearby. Secondly, Salus uses a number of integrated safety features, such as the Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) to protect the user from oblique falls, providing optimal protection should a dangerous event occur.

The Salus stands out from competitors with the unique GPS warning system which communicates with both the rider and vehicle users. It is designed to provide both haptic and visual feedback to communicate with the rider without causing distractions. The wrist band uses three main colours, which relate to vehicles approaching from in front, behind, and other notifications such as the time. It is important to use bold colours to communicate with users, as they can convey the message rapidly, and reduce the distraction potential in comparison to utilizing symbols only. The alert notifications prioritise inclusivity in their design. The three colours selected have been approved by IBM, as they can be viewed as distinct colours by the four main groups of colour blindness.

To achieve a superior fit, the helmet is manufactured to industry standard sizing, and users can adjust the size further using removable padding. The helmet features a textured shell, which proved to be a popular requirement amongst users, as it allows for the easy attachment of helmet covers and reflective bands. The helmet features a modular design, providing users the option to customise the helmet, allowing for a range of key use scenarios, including competitions and professional events, which may require strict aesthetic or safety standards.

LED technology is integrated into the design, to ensure optimal visibility on the roads. The lighting is attached to the helmet using N35 magnets, providing a strong attachment that can be pushed off upon impact, ensuring the lighting housing does not interfere with the impact protection provided by the helmet. It has been designed to ensure that the battery is not near the user’s head during an impact, which could cause safety concerns.

The Salus showcases how existing technology can be utilised to evolve riding helmets and solve important safety problems.