DIY Smart Cycling Helmet With GPS And Compass For Navigation

Smart cycling helmets seem to be a huge source of inspiration lately, and we’ve written about many of them. This particular helmet, which is one of the most visually appealing ones I’ve seen, is one you can make yourself. The light strips allow you to create some wild animations. Those animations will not only alert drivers of your whereabouts, but they’ll also help you find your way. It’s also equipped with a GPS module and compass, so this handy helmet could be very useful.

This particular smart cycling helmet was designed to help people find their way to the nearest Citi Bike station in NYC, but you could adapt it for wherever you live of course. It’s a modded Carrera folding helmet with LED NeoPixel strips in the grooves. It’s those strips of light themselves that will guide you along the way with a FLORA GPS.

You can get the detailed tutorial for how to make this helmet on Adafruit Learning Center at Citi Bike Helmet. I read the entire how-to, and I’m not going to lie, it’s advanced. I have no doubt in the end it will all be worth it though. You’ll be the only one on the block with a smart cycling helmet like this, and everyone will be asking you where you got it.

If you live in NYC and want the code for the Citi Bike stations, it’s all in the tutorial for you to download. It includes navigation to over 300 bike stations. It will determine which one is closest to you and then use the GPS to navigate you there. I think this helmet would be fun to make even with just the compass and animated lights. Good luck!