Apeman has launched the Seeker all-in-one safety solution for cyclists on Kickstarter following the showcase of the device at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), already surpassing the initial crowdfunding target in just seven hours.
Apeman’s new offering aims to increase cyclists’ safety with its modular 4K action camera, a smart brake light and tail light system, 'laser bike lanes' and a live rear view function that can be paired with your smartphone... quite a lot going on, and perhaps a bit too much to be fully focussed on the road according to some of you when we first covered the launch of the device on our CES Show article. Even so, it would appear 35 backers who have so far pledged over £9,000 in total disagree, as the Seeker has already surpassed its crowdfunding target with 29 days to go.
Bike safety tech certainly seems to be fashionable right now, with Cannondale just yesterday revealing its centralised SmartSense safety system on the new Synapse, which includes a rear brake light function and Garmin's Varia Radar traffic detection system that can be charged from a single power pack.
Back to the Seeker, the R1 features a ‘Rearview e-Mirror’ which has a wide angle 150 degree field of view that records (at 4k) and provides a live view of any incoming vehicles on your smartphone.
Apeman says this “can keep you informed on any incoming vehicles coming from the back, allowing you to safely change between lanes without worry”.
You’ve also got a built-in light sensor which, according to Apeman, automatically detects the ambient environment lighting and will automatically turn on in the dark or shaded areas.
The sensor can also detect when you’re slowing down. “It will enter 'warning mode' and begin flashing, signalling other motorists around you that you are slowing down, minimising rear-end accidental collisions,” Apeman claims.
The R1 also includes an anti-collision laser bike lane. “It is able to project two laser bike lanes by your side, essentially creating your very own ‘cycle-safe-zone’, warning other vehicles to keep a safe distance from you,” Apeman explains.
The F1 is the front-facing version of the Seeker R1, and is equipped with its own adaptive lighting headlight, also with a built-in light sensor.
The Seeker One is the modular 4K Action Camera that comes included in the R1 and F1: “Simply open the magnetic hinges and remove the Seeker One by sliding it out,” Apeman points out. “Now, it is ready to be used as a standalone action camera.”
You can pair the Seeker devices with your smartphone. “Once paired, Seeker (and the app) will transform your smartphone into a live rearview mirror/digital dashboard that keeps the user informed with information such as a speedometer, distance travelled, riding duration, battery life, altitude meter and others,” Apeman details.
The Early Bird price of $299 (that’s around £220) for the Seeker R1 saves you up to 25% - there’s 39 of these left.
All the usual Kickstarter rules and regulations apply which can be found here.
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18 comments
I gopro7 front and back. Great...battery life, scumbag reaction shots (rear) as well as those amazing scenery shots.
I can only pray the new highway code amendments will be allowed to stay. Operation SNAP will be very busy.
Let's book em Danno (Kojak anyone?)!
Personally I think this product is the answer to my dreams - whenever my wife and I go out cycling together it ends in a row as she says "I ride off into the distance and drop her" - I have tried everything - mirrors, looking over my shoulder every 30s, but nothing works (she's there one miniute - the next she's 400m behind!) - we have been looking for a product like this and are so glad that it has eventually been created... its a bit pricey ATM but Im sure the price will come down somewhat.
I can sympathise as I used to have the same issue (though with Mrs HawkinsPeter and not your wife). I'd try to go in front to provide her some protection from a headwind, but then either have her complaining that I was going to slow or I'd turn round and see that she'd be too far behind for any aero benefit. In the end, it was just easier for her to go in front and set the pace.
Don't know if it would be useful but I had the same problem when Mrs H started (she's now close to me on the flat and faster up hills, the result of cheating by being 30kgs lighter!) so I put my iPhone on the handlebars and added her iPhone to my devices, turned on "Find my iPhone" and we could see each other on the road so I knew to ease off when the gap got too big.
I don't know who dreams this stuff up. I use a bike camera front and back to report close passes to the Police.
I certainly don't have the ability to keep my eye on a screen whilst riding my bike. Using all the abilities of a cyclist to ride safely and be aware of traffic. No driver is going to pay any attention to the bike lane display, beeps or anything else other than flashing lights, hi-viz and the cyclists presence on the road.
Not only that the devices here are massive chunky things, see the upstanding pipe to hold the camera at the front.
It seems to me that someone has sat on a stationary bike and looked at their smartphone.
I have two suggestions that I would like. 1. a distance sensor linked to close passes which records the distance on video to include with the submission to Police. 2. a speed sensor detecting a cars speed behind but also recorded on video.
Cyclists safety is wholly in the hands of the motorist.
You need a garmin varia radar and the third party website discussed here:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/05/varia-radar-maps-connect-app.html
Short version the varia logs speed and distance but is only exposed if you use a third party app.
I love tech. I'm a sucker for gadgets. I'm daft enough to invest in Kickstarter and Indiegogo projects. Repeatedly. I've bought more than one set of indicators. I run cameras front n rear. I have mirrors on my bike (HAD - somebody stole em!).
But even I'm not sold on this. It looks big n ugly. Why does it have a screen? Is it so the driver coming up behind you can see how he looks before running you off the road?
When you're prototyping electronics and need to waterproof it a bit, it's often convenient to chuck it in a lunchbox or if you've got the budget, a peli case.
That's what I see here.
If they're going to keep that strange form factor, how about covering the surface area in the speed camera symbol?
And now you've got it to "protect" you from motor vehicles the rear reflector can be angled to warn passing helicopters of your presence.
"all in one cycling safety solution"
No. And anyway, who needs it when we've already got the solution? helmets.
Heretic! Everyone knows its HiViz.
I notice on the Kickstarter page they claim a battery life of 300 minutes which has an asterisk linked to a footnote saying "Battery life can vary depending on usage". Can't help feeling that if you're running a recording camera, tail light, automatic brake light system, laser lane system and at the same time Bluetooth streaming the live pictures to your smartphone it will give you about enough juice to get to the supermarket and back.
Don't think anyone's going to be seen dead with a portable TV attached to their seat post (remind me to edit this in a year when it's sold a million).
Interesting, but this just combines a few features already found elsewhere.
E.g. The widely available (and thoroughly decent) Teentok / Techalogic rear light cameras already have the "mirror function" where you can watch the rear view on a smartphone. I've not found it particularly more useful than a quick look over the shoulder, and it drains your phone battery and means the phone isn't available for other uses e.g. Komoot directions/live stats etc.
The "laser lanes" are already available as a standalone.
Please provide links?
Google is your friend. Lezyne for a branded one. Ali for some tat that may or may not be working in 6 months.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=laser+bike+light&source=lnms&tbm=shop&...
TAT.
Traffic Alerts & Tracking?
Totally Awesome Technology?
Top And Tail?