Signify RCW in ThirdEYE with flashing indicators

Hans -- thanks for the opportunity to present my perspective as a Spyder rider.

I'll begin with citing my thread on Blind Spot Mirrors and Blind Spot Detectors https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?156953-To-Choose-a-Blind-Spot-Mirror-or-a-Blind-Spot-Detector-or-Both

BSMs are for Seeing while BSDs are for Cueing. That's why Innovv calls indicators Alarms rather than Images.

Motorcycle riders and car drivers have similar but not identical perspectives on the road, the differences largely due to size, protection and forgiveness for mistakes.

I just became aware of BSDs for motorcycles (there are two from China) and I think the Innovv product is outstanding for a variety of reasons, the RCW alarm being key to my choice.

==========

BSD, LCA and RCW are not the same as follows:

BSD indicates Presence within a car length or two.

LCA indicates Time-to-Collision < 3 seconds in an adjacent lane.

RCW indicates Time-to-Collision < 3 seconds in my current lane.

BSD is a normal riding condition and usually isn't a concern unless a lane change or other action is being considered or undertaken.

LCA is an unusal riding condition with a vehicle overtaking at a high rate of differential speed and is always of concern, albeit usually moderate, unless a lane change or other action is being considered or undertaken.

RCW is a serious riding condition with a vehicle approaching at a high rate of differential speed and is always of concern at the danger of injury or death level. Evasive or other actions will be of immediate consideration. This is a sphincter-tightening situation.

==========

I went out and sat on my Spyder to verify own lane view. Basically I can't completely see a car directly behind me until about 50 feet distance. And I certainly can't determine TTC < 3secs as accurately and as quickly as the ThirdEYE does.

My mirrors are convex TricLED Wide-Vu stick-on which completely cover the Spyder mirrors. Like most riders I have them adjusted so I can see my saddlebags on the inner edges. And of course this provides the best view directly behind me in an RCW situation.

==========

Like my turn signal repeaters, I will be mounting the Innovv indicators (or repeaters) in the console area within my field of view while looking forward at the road. Like my turn signal repeaters, I will not have to move my eyes to observe (vice direct look at) them while looking forward at the road. Combined with the lane information, the Fast-Flash/Steady/Slow-Flash capability cues my attention towards where it is needed most.

==========

Quoting from my SpyderLovers post:

Do I rely on my BSMs? Yes. They are my only mirrors to see with since they totally cover the Spyder mirrors.

Will I rely on my BSD? No. I'll continue my visual scan as before with the added benefit of an electronic gadget watching my 6 with alerts.

Abilities differ.

Steve -- based on your documentation, your alarm lights have only one mode of operation: steady on/steady off. I am proposing three modes of operation:

Fast flash: used for RCW condition

Slow flash: used for LCA condition

Steady: used for BSD condition

In order of precedence:

1st: while RCW condition detected, Fast flash both alarm lights

2nd: no RCW condition, while BSD condition detected in the left and/or right lane(s), steady alarm light for those lane(s)

3rd: no RCW condition and no BSD condition detected in the lane, while LCA condition detected in the left and/or right lane(s), slow flash alarm light for those lanes(s)

These three modes of operation disambiguate the nature of the vehicle presence as well as the lane (to the left, directly behind, and to the right).

The diagram depicted above demonstrates the ambiguity of your current alarm modes. For example, the BSD/LCA Alarm (Left) does not allow the motorcycle rider to distinguish between a BSD condition and an LCA condition. If the BSD condition was indicated with Steady mode (ie not flashing) and the LCA condition was indicated with Slow Flash mode, the rider would have improved situational awareness (if both conditions pertained, the BSD condition would take precedence).

Thank you for considering my suggestion and allowing me to clarify it.

Steve -- you might be interested in this Blind Spot Mirror/Blind Spot Detector thread https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?156953-To-Choose-a-Blind-Spot-Mirror-or-a-Blind-Spot-Detector-or-Both

Steve -- another example of ambiguous alerts is the RCW Alarm (Left + Right) in the diagram above which shows simultaneous Left and Right alarm lights. Simultaneous Left and Right alarm lights are shown for the following four conditions:

RCW

BSD in both Left and Right lanes

BSD in Left lane and LCA in Right lane

LCA in Left lane and BSD in Right lane

The rider has no means to disambiguate among these conditions which, for motorcycles is critically important for RCW because riders usually must shift their bodies to see directly behind them because they don't have a center mirror like most vehicles. This introduces the likelihood of false RCW TTC alarms and essentially negates the value of this most excellent feature of your ThirdEYE.

In the interest of clarification I offer the following pseudo-code

if (RCW == True) AlertMode( Fast, Fast )

else {

if (BSDleft == True) AlertMode( Steady, )

elseif (LCAleft == True) AlertMode( Slow, )

else AlertMode( Off, )

endif

if (BSDright == True) AlertMode( , Steady )

elseif (LCAright == True) AlertMode( , Slow )

else AlertMode( , Off )

endif

}

endif

Thanks again for considering my suggestion and allowing me to clarify it.