In Dec. 2023, the World Health Organization reported approximately 1.19 million people die in road traffic crashes each year, with 92% of these fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In those areas, motorcycles are often cited as being involved in more than 70% of road deaths.
2018 – MCAS
Dr. Hanowski began collaborating with researchers at MIROS (Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research) to better understand the growing number of motorcycle-related crashes in Malaysia (Ibrahim, Jamil, Manan, & Hanowski, 2019; Hanowski et al., 2019, 2021, 2022; Ibrahim, Hamid, Rashid, Jamil, & Hanowski, 2019). After several joint publications examining the scope of the problem, primarily from a crash causation and operator behavior standpoint, the team became interested in developing a forward collision warning system for motorcycles (with support from Boon Siew Honda Malaysia and PLUS Malaysia Berhad). While common in both new cars and trucks, forward collision warning technology is uncommon for motorcycles. Called the Motorcycle Collision Alert System (MCAS), this technology went through initial research, development, and testing phases with promising results including (i) rider self-assessed safety benefits from fewer crashes/near-crashes, (ii) positive user/rider opinions regarding the technology. The results from a pilot of 32 riders in Malaysia were reported to the Malaysian Ministry of Transportation (MOT), who were pleased with the results. The team also presented the findings to a Malaysian commercialization support organization (think “Shark Tank”) who were also impressed but suggested the focus, at least initially, should be towards sales of businesses engaged in delivery using motorcycle fleets. For example, there are thousands of motorcycles in Malaysia that delivered food from restaurants to customers. Having the support from a company engaged in delivery activity, and purchasing the technology for their delivery personnel, was suggested as an optimal initial path for further development and testing of MCAS. From these initial collaborations, with a new focus on occupational riders, the idea for the Motocycle Collision Alert and Management System (MCAMS) was born.
“Building off my experience investigating crash contexts for motorcycles in Malaysia, I developed the MCAMS to be a risk-mitigation, motorcycle safety technology that would (i) provide the rider with real-time alerting to help them avoid imminent rear-end crashes, (ii) use data collected from MCAMS during a ride to provide tailored training to improve future rides, and (iii) support managers of motorcycle delivery fleets to understand which of their riders are most/least risky so that risk-mitigation strategies can be implemented.”
2023 – MSS is formed
In late 2023, Rich discussed the MCAS idea with Carl Cospel, a lead engineer at VTTI and a long time motorcycle rider. Together they formed Motorcycle Safety Solutions, LLC and began working with Virginia Tech’s Link License Launch to patent the idea. In early 2024, Feng Guo joins the team, bringing expert data analytics and AI talent to the company.
The first prototypes were developed in Carl’s basement, using a mix of off the shelf components, a custom designed PCB, and 3d printed parts. A mobile app was developed in conjunction with the MCAMS hardware to wirelessly collect data and update algorithms on the fly. A back-end server was designed to collect the data, adjust settings, and update software.
2024 – Pilots
Indonesia: In April, the MSS team traveled to Jakarta to install the first five prototype MCAMS systems onto motorcycles owned by students and faculty of the University of Indonesia. In July, they installed five updated prototypes at the Bandung Institute of Technology
Malaysia: MSS continues testing updated designs on five bikes at the Islamic Science University of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in Q3.
Thailand: With a near production prototype on hand in Q4, MSS installs their system on 10 bikes in Bangkok.
Vietnam: Closing out 2024, MSS began its installation of ten bikes in Camau City.