Introduction

BagLight navigates users safely through road traffic via vibration impulses and indicates changes in the direction of travel with a light signal to other road users. The volume of the BagLight is flexibly adapted to its contents by a folding mechanism. The adjustable strap and inner padding allow four comfortable ways of carrying. The BagLight is made of weatherproof fabric and a robust case, ensuring it can be used at any time while safely storing its contents.

The BagLight design by Tom Rosenbaum was developed as part of the project ‘Nähe über Distanz - Haptische Kommunikation über Smart Textiles’ in the Industrial Design study programme at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences, supervised by Prof. Pelin Celik and supported by the cooperation partners HapticLabs and TITV Greiz.

Problem

In times of increasing bicycle and electric micro-vehicle mobility, road safety is particularly important. BagLight is designed to create low-risk and communicative traffic situations while navigating road users safely and visibly through traffic. The folding mechanism and the durable material enable flexible application. Additionally, the smart navigation can help people with severe visual impairments to better orient themselves in public places through vibration impulses.

Solution

The BagLight can be connected to common navigation apps and translates their navigation into haptic and visual signals. The intensity of the vibration and the light color can be individually set in the BagLight app. Two actuators on the inner ends of the fanny pack generate the vibrations, and an LED strip on the front of the bag generates the light signal. The actuators and LEDs are powered by an Arduino controller and a battery bank.

Process

• Design Inspiration and Goals: The BagLight project aims to design a multifunctional fanny pack characterized by a futuristic design that stands out from conventional bags. The innovative design and integration of modern vibrotactile technologies are intended to optimally fulfill the needs for safety, interaction, and communication.

• Development Process: The design process began by identifying the key needs of urban commuters and analyzing trends. Prototyping started with simple paper models to explore form and function, followed by initial trials using the vibrotactile tools provided by Haptic Labs. CAD models were then used to refine the design and create more sophisticated visualizations and a physical, functional prototype. The prototype was partly 3D printed, deep-drawn, and sewn.

• Technical Implementation: Effective integration of technology was crucial. When the BagLight is connected to the app, two vibration motors on the inside of the fanny pack provide navigation via vibration impulses. This allows direction changes and traffic warnings to be given to the user as direct haptic feedback. Additionally, an LED strip on the front of the bag indicates direction changes, improving the user's visibility to other road users. The BagLight is powered by a 5000mAh power bank, supplying the microcontroller, LED strip, and actuators with sufficient power for an operating time of 2.5 hours.

Haptics

• Challenges: One of the biggest challenges was achieving the optimum function and integration of the technical components. Appropriate vibration patterns and light animations had to be developed. The intensity and duration of the vibrations and the animation of the LEDs were harmonized and calibrated to be intuitively understandable, perceptible but not disruptive. It was important that these signals provide immediate, comprehensible information without overwhelming the user.

• Benefits: The intelligent navigation of the BagLight using vibration impulses is not only a safe alternative to conventional navigation using visual and acoustic signals, as it reduces the need to constantly look at a screen or device, but also enables people with visual impairments to orient themselves better and navigate safely in public spaces. The integrated lighting technology increases visibility and communication in traffic, ensuring greater safety in road traffic.