Skully Helmet

The Skully AR-1 is a smart motorcycle helmet created by US start-up Skully that aims to make motorbike riding safer.

The helmet features a 180-degree rear-mounted camera that provides riders with a live feed from behind the bike, reducing the need to manually check blind spots. The live feed is shown on a small transparent display positioned below the rider's right eye.

The helmet also includes a speedometer, GPS navigation and voice recognition technology, augmenting the video feed with contextual data. It also connects to smartphones via Bluetooth, allowing users to send and receive hands-free calls and listen to music while riding.

"The AR-1 will introduce a new era in intelligent transportation by combining optics, intelligent vehicle systems and connectivity to deliver unprecedented levels of safety," says Skully founder Marcus Weller.

The helmet has already raised close to $1m on crowdfunding site IndieGoGo, with almost a month left of the campaign. The first helmets, priced at $1,399, are expected to be ready in May 2015.

Sophisticated new technology is prompting a range of new accessories designed to make driving and riding smarter and safer. Tiredness is a big concern – and a key area of innovation. Earlier this year, Japanese eyewear firm Jins released a pair of smart glasses that can determine how fatigued the wearer is, while researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the UK are working on a car seat that monitors drivers' alertness.

For more on how smart tech is improving transportation, see Connected Cars 2014: Consumer Lifestyle.