With all the recent advancements 3D technology has afforded high performance, professional cyclists from bodysuits to handlebars, it’s refreshing to see the technology also being developed for general use. Dave Clarke, a father of two young girls, recently had a revelation, which lead him to develop an effective and simple way to ensure his daughters’ safety while riding their bikes through the neighborhood.
Dad inspiration
In the product description of the system, Clarke says, “The iBrake system allows [my] girls to have the freedom but me the piece of mind knowing that I can stop their bikes remotely from up to 100 meters.”
Consisting of two main parts including the iBrick, a housing unit that holds the battery, a Blynk board and a lego brick lid, the iBrake is designed to remotely control a bike’s brake system. Clarke explains that by using the Blynk custom iOS app on his mobile phone, he can control the brakes and turn on the twelve LED lights that surround the iBrick. The bright, white LED lights are programmed to flash before the brakes have been applied, so as to warn the rider that the bike is about to stop.
Safe and affordable
The original iBrick housings were printed at 0.2mm with 20% infill, and the rack and pinion for the iBrake were printed at 80% infill with three perimeters. Clarke says the rack should be printed out as originally oriented in order to prevent the teeth from shredding. Additionally, Clarke advises super-gluing the two racks together for security. All of the .STL files needed to print the iBrake system can be downloaded for free on MyMiniFactory. Users can also find a helpful tutorial here.
All together, the printed parts and additional materials only cast about £40, making the system an easily accessible way to keep your children safe. If you’re still not convinced of its innovative capabilities, check out the iBrake system in action below, via Clarke’s trailer video.
