Part performance art and part social experiment, [mocymo]’s Smilemachine V6 helmet is as delightful as it is expressive. The helmet is made primarily from laser-cut MDF assembled around parts from a safety helmet. The display is an Android tablet with fine operation controlled by a Bluetooth mini keyboard, and the helmet cleverly makes use of the tablet’s ability to adjust the display to compensate for head tilt angle. It recently made an appearance at Maker Faire Tokyo, where the creator says the reception (especially by children) exceeded expectations.
There are several interesting things done with this device. One is the handheld controller, which is essentially a mini Bluetooth keyboard. To help allow fine control without needing to look down at the controller, the keyboard sits in a frame with some nuts and bolts used as highly tactile button extensions. By allowing the user to change the physical button layout (and setting up keyboard shortcuts on the device to match) the arrangement can be made more intuitive for the user. Some photos of this assembly are in the gallery after the break.
Another interesting bit is that despite a tablet being right in front of your eyes, it is possible to see out the front of the helmet while wearing it. The solution is completely low-tech: two mirrors form a periscope whose angle can be adjusted by turning a knob on the side of the helmet.
Version 1 of the helmet was started back in 2012; this is version 6 and [mocymo] is already filling out a to-do list for refinements. The nose area is uncomfortable, the angle of periscope is slightly off and the gearing needs to be reworked, among other things. We can’t wait to see Version 7. Video and gallery are embedded below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9MWVoPvr4Q
Whenever you are building something into a helmet, every little bit of space matters so it’s important to use whatever you can to save space and weight. For example, offloading the controls in this iPhone-controlled Daft Punk helmet means less to fit into the helmet itself. But sometimes you have no alternative but to design everything as smartly as you can, like this Iron Man Helmet’s faceplate-locking assembly, or this Stargate Horus helmet.
I have been looking for info on this thing for a long time after I saw it on Facebook and loved the idea. Thanks for posting!
It looks like the video is made in After Effects? Wonder if they posted those files anywhere. I want to make something like this for my Halloween costume. Actually, pretty much the same project but with scary faces haha.
https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://mocymo.org/&prev=search
Why not link his page
He did! It’s up there, first link in the article, like every article.
That is as awesome as it is unsettling :D
Sorta reminds me of a K8
How heavy is it?
Heavy enough that I would say it needs some foam padding to cushion your head.
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I never thought about using a keyboard that way. Makes the layout customizable.
This would make an awesome Dr Who villain
I can just see the smiley face going from smiley to angry
+1
“Smile” series 10, episode 2, Capaldi as The Doctor.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smile_(Doctor_Who)
Very nice. I like the pixel effect of putting the screen over the tablet, simple and effective
But where can I buy one?