2011 Wiper Helmet Reported by Peggy Ho of CTV, Taiwan.

      Jerry Tseng, general manager of HaiHao, holds the first-generation, mouth-operated wiper helmet.  

     Making ingenious use of advanced technologies and materials,HaiHao Technology Co., Ltd. recently successfully developed the third-generation Touch Control Wiper Helmet, enhancing further motorcycling safety globally and adding a very interesting,innovative product to the motorcycle-accessory segment, with this new accessory promising even wider applications in the future. Perhaps the most important function of the Touch Control Wiper Helmet is to make safer motorcycling in rainy, snowing, or dusty conditions. 

     Basically, the Touch Control Wiper Helmet features a transplanted, single-arm automotive wiper system onto a motorcycle helmet, with the redesign being complicated for all the electronic control, mechanism, and power-supply have to be made to fit inside a tiny space. Jerry Tseng, general manager of HaiHao, is very proud of the third-generation model-one that has been developed into an advanced, modularized product, with its innovative, miniaturized wiper system customizable to fit virtually every full-face safety helmet.  

     Dream Realized “Only a few years ago it was a dream to build an automotive wiper into a motorcycle helmet, due to many formidable challengers, including cost concerns of course, despite so many studies, research having been done by global companies and universities, “ Tseng points out . ” Many graduate-level research programs have been done at universities in Taiwan alone, but all have seen shown to be infeasible. ” Investing in ambitious research over the past four years, Tseng has been trying to improve on the practicalities of the previous prototypes: the first-generation wiper called for a rider to control the movement by mouth, and the second-generation required the shield to be custom made to suit wiping angles. 

     “The technology, material advancement, and know- how accumulated via extensive R&D, “ Tseng claims, “ finally enabled us to successfully build the third-generation Touch Control Wiper Helmet-one that is an intelligent, remote-controlled, and universal-fit.”Breakthroughs A major breakthrough made in the Touch Control Wiper Helmet is the development of an advanced mini wiper blade that  integrates both frame and blade, which sweeps smoothly across face shields without dead angle and untouched area. Also high-density, long-life batteries, Tseng adds, enables the wiper helmet system to last three to six months (with four AA batteries), or even up to two years with high-end lithium batteries.    

The third breakthrough is the system integration: different mechanisms and electronic controls had to be made to fit inside a tiny space via sophisticated circuit and mechanical designs. HaiHao’s third- generation wiper system also features many user-friendly functions-the sensor to remind a shield is completely pulled down to activate the wiper; the remote-controller can be set up on the combination switch on the handlebar; and the single, intermittent and continuous wiping patterns. The backbone of such breakthroughs, according to Tseng, is HaiHao’s firmware development ability that created a commercialized product.Initially, HaiHao will market a complete Touch Control Wiper Helmet, helmet integrated with the wiper system, which has been certified by all relevant global safety standards, including the helmet hardness standard for the wiper system does not alter the original helmet, as well as the CE, FCC standards. 

     Only partly driven by business success, Tseng is reassured by the successful development and commercialization of the Touch Control Wiper Helmet for he was injured while riding a motorcycle 20 years ago in the rain. He also cites an academic paper showing that 52% of  motorcyclists in Taiwan think wiper-integrated helmets are needed.Multi-functional Helmet Next Long before debuting the third-generation wiper helmet, Tseng had already begun dreaming of building an intelligent safety helmet for the future-one that is truly multi-functional. 

     The ambitious executive is working to realize his next dream gradually, feeling confident for he already has the needed technologies. Overcoming technical challenges in the wiper system has been the most difficult in HaiHao’s  R&D efforts. The company is ready to build more innovations into safety helmets, most of which remain secrets; but Tseng aims to design, develop futuristic helmets offering protection and comfort in all weather conditions, even featuring many integrated high-tech conveniences as telecom etc. (by Quincy Liang)