Solar Helmet Hits The Scene
The Fraunhofer Institute team is probably the first to make a helmet that can harness energy from the sun to generate green electricity. The helmet is currently at the prototype stage. A solar panel curved in the shape of the helmet is installed. The device embeds a lithium polymer and acts as a charger for the skier’s portable devices such as a mobile phones or an MP3 player for example.
In a second step, the team will transform the helmet into communication equipment. In other words, it will connect the smartphone via Bluetooth and will act as a handsfree set. The helmet will be equipped with a microphone and an earphone. A glove equipped with high-tech buttons and OLED display goes with the helmet and can control it.
The project is in collaboration with a German company named TEXSYS. The helmet looks promising, especially in its final version.
Basma Jalloul – Green Energy International Correspondent – 24/03/2012
