VDPROJECT S.R.L.

Engineering and R&D start-up company with its own patents and trademarks

THE PROTOTYPES IDENTIFIED BY THE eDelfino® TRADEMARK

What is eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® exactly?

NEW: eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® is an innovative system based on a flexible electronic control unit which can be installed on any helmet, through its case to be hung on the helmet closure strap and through a particular, soft semicircular ring to be installed on the inner surface of the helmet, as you can see on this webpage. Thanks to its peculiar structure, the product performs at least the following functionalities:

1. Automatic and manual Emergency Call to 112, also as eCall, in case of a fall from the vehicle and/or an accident with real-time monitoring and transmission of vital parameters - blood pressure on the carotid and heart rate - expressed as steps to help the rescue team in the organisation of a quick and punctual intervention and to respect the user's privacy and the current European GDPR at the same time;

2. Monitoring and reconstruction of the dynamic of the fall and/or the accident, with a focus on impact on the user's head;

3. Automatic alert with a synthetized voice about possible dangerous riding conditions (such as the presence of bumps and potholes, the lack of adherence, etc.) and driver assistance to reduce the probability of a fall and/or an accident (with a vehicle).

NEW: Robust ● Complete ● Bi-directional audio communication with the rescuer ● Fall prevention ● Compatibility with on-board electronic control units

Patented in Italy, in Europe and in the US

Intended also to extend the current eCall service and similar emergency services to vehicles different from automobiles and motorcycles as well as to the use of means of transport which share the same kind of risks as motorcycles; in particular, the product is intended for all the vehicles and means of transport, the use of which requires a helmet to be worn or for the use of which wearing a helmet is recommended, as well as to more use cases than the standard ones, including:

• The use on bicycles, eBikes, motorcycles, motorbikes, quads, mopeds, motorized or muscolar three-wheeled cycles, scooters, Segway®, etc. for professional purposes and/or leisure time;

• The use in professional and sport activities to be performed in the mountains; 

• The use on watercrafts and in water sport activities with similar risks, i.e. rafting;

• The protection of personnel involved in construction, ship-building industries, and agriculture;

• The use in other sports and professional activities, especially where an emergency might occur.

eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® can be used without altering the vehicle or the means of transport and without altering the characteristics of the helmet. It is potentially applicable also to similar emergency conditions which skiers and the like might experience. Suitable both for women and men.

Why is this system called eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit®?

eDelfino® is the union of the acronym "e", which stands for Emergency and also for Electric and Electronic equipment, with the Italian name of one of the most clever and adored water animals, the dolphin ("Delfino").

As known, the dolphin is able to rescue and drive the sailors in safe areas, avoiding them risky conditions on voyage. Therefore, the name eDelfino® sums up all the relevant aspects of the first above-mentioned innovative system related to the safety of the user as well as to product technologies.

However, eDelfino® is also a creative way to write the name Edelfino, which means "little Edelfo" in Italian. You are here reminded that Edelfo is a personal name used and in use in Italian and in Spanish; therefore, eDelfino® can be considered as the first name of the above described system and you can find it in the extended product trademark named eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit®.

If you wish to discover all product advantages, receive the product and/or further information, as well as sustain the project development, please click the following link: Contact details.

For a detailed description about the product functionalities and characteristics, you can write to  info@vdproject.eu  and ask for the PDF brochure.

Its external structure

(*) Prototype composed of materials with high capability of limiting the spread of fire or flames

(**) The prototype can be hung on a motorcycle helmet or on a bicycle helmet, for example

(***) eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® can be water-resistant, as a function of the intended final applications

(****) To see a prototype working live, just ask VDPROJECT S.R.L. directly

Its internal structure - Its flexible electronic circuits

In brief, flexible circuits - like those contained in eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® - are applications useful to the electronics sector at least because:

1. When subjected to an impact or stress, they do not break but bend, especially when fully flexible
2. The fully flexible dielectric layers can withstand high temperatures, up to approximately 400°C, without disintegrating
3. With proper design, a flexible circuit board allows you to have a look at the layer underneath the solder of a chip and check its accuracy by sight
4. Highly-laminated boards can be lightly flexible and you can produce circuits with these at a lower cost than FPCs.

Its internal and external structure - The mechanics of flexible parts and its importance in this context

The creation of eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® necessarily requires the use of a flexible material so that the product can be worn around the neck and head of the user; this requirement allows, at the same time, to obtain a device with high shock absorption capacity, so as to reduce as much as possible the probability of breakage of the internal components of the device itself.

In its first creation, eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® features an external casing in TPU, a modern form of polyurethane that can be processed using 3D printers; in particular, polyurethane as produced by BASF can also be processed using the very modern MJF - Multi Jet Fusion - 3D printers by HP, which allow the creation of three-dimensional geometries, even partially closed at the ends, without the need for any support during the printing phase.

VDPROJECT S.R.L. has prepared the 3D CAD files to create both the external casing and the internal shock absorbers of eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® with a kind of TPU - Thermoplastic Polyurethane; the latter are designed to be capable, at least, of maintaining their structure unchanged within an impact area of less than 2.5 cm² as well as to absorb the impact along one direction, at least, after a fall from a height within 25 m approximately.

These shock absorbers can also withstand impacts at speeds greater than 79 km/h and from a height of more than 25 m with appropriate sizing and/or accepting a possible deformation. These shock absorbers are low-cost and can be replaced without problems where necessary; they can also be modified in shape to adapt to the external design of the device that houses them as well as to the weight to be supported.

Therefore, there is a clear difference between a traditional mobile phone case and the eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® case!

You can find below some simulation examples showing the clear difference in pressure during a free fall as experienced by a glass-reinforced PA66 plastic phone case and a compact polyurethane shock absorber.

• Simulation for a PA66 glass-reinforced mobile phone case, example provided by ANSYS for ANSYS Mechanical and LS-DYNA: https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/public/account/secured?returnurl=////////Views/Secured/corp/v242/en/acp_fiber_tut/acp_fiber_tut_ch_tutorial_5.html

Maximum pressure in a free fall, first example: 215.45 MPa = 215 450 000 Pa

The case gets broken before the simulation is completed

• Simulation for a polyurethane shock absorber with coefficients adapted by VDPROJECT S.R.L. as a function of the properties of the material in use - as depicted below, with images kindly obtained using ANSYS Mechanical 2024 for study purposes

Maximum pressure/Maximum principal stress produced in a free fall from 25 m: = 0.012721 MPa = 12 721 Pa

The simulation shows that shock absorber can bend; according to the data provided to VDPROJECT S.R.L., this is still in its elastic region, so after the impact it restores its shape automatically.

Automatic detection of dangerous bumps and potholes

Why does it work?

The videos below explain the general principle around which this function was built and demonstrate that the prototype is capable of performing it through an IMU unit with an accelerometer + a gyroscope + a temperature sensor and a telephone board which contains the phone module; both the elements are soldered on FPCs. In this example, the phone module plays the acoustic warning as well. These components can be joined together through another single flexible board; therefore, they are very thin and light, so as not to weigh on the person carrying them.

There may be several valid electronic implementations for the eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit®, but they all rely on the use of flexible boards.

The prototype devices performing this function are all of automotive kind and result compliant with the current RoHS Directive - DELEGATED DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/863 - as declared by the respective manufacturers. Thus, these could be suitable also for ISO 26262 safety-relevant applications. For all the MEMS used here MTTF is known, fulfilling in this way one of the basic requirements for reliability calculations.

How can this feature be used?

Automatic detection of dangerous potholes and bumps allows the user to:

- Recover the vertical equilibrium while riding motorcycles, bicycles and similar ones before falling

- Check possible serious jolts that the carried load might receive, avoiding that fragile or unstable objects are damaged during transport.

It looks also very unlikely that you can define a priori and with absolute certainty the maximum dimensions that all the potholes can have in a travel, while bumps, when intentionally placed, are generally regulated.

Furthermore, vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles and other two- or multi-wheeled vehicles are equipped primarily with a suspension system and in some cases also with a shock absorber system; usually, only larger and heavier vehicles are equipped with both suspensions and shock absorbers.

There are also technical reference standards with which the performance of these systems is measured.

For this reason, you can neither always predict the behaviour of your vehicle during a travel, nor be sure that your vehicle will follow the road profile without letting you fall or being hurt; thus, the automatic detection system for bumps and potholes by VDPROJECT S.R.L. is always useful.

(*) The video shows one of the possible Engineering test activities, tests and testware documentation of and by VDPROJECT S.R.L.

(**) This road has been improved after this video, but the product function is still useful

The eCall: one of the possible ways in which eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit performs the emergency call

eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® is an innovative, patented product, designed to be added to any helmet and helps the user to communicate with the PSAP/112 emergency responders and ask for help.

Among many Engineering activities, VDPROJECT S.R.L. has also developed special algorithms to let eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® and other prototypes perform the eCall as required by the related European technical standards. The company has been working with the Italian PSAP, that is the Emergency Center CUE/CUR NUE 112/PSAP of Varese, to test the MSD and the full eCall function, after a first visit on 09/28/2022.

For this reason, VDPROJECT S.R.L. would like to thank here the Italian PSAP - CUE NUE 112 in Varese - and all the Company's Suppliers that have been contributing to the success of all Research & Development, Engineering and Design for Engineering activities of the company.

The development of eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® is strictly confidential and continuously evolving; however, VDPROJECT S.R.L. wishes to show you some results of its Research activities without compromising its confidentiality.



How do you recharge eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit®?

Through its eDelfino® Wireless Charger

The related patents

Real-life cases in which eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® might be useful

New section - coming soon

To support the realization of eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit®

Please visit the following page to purchase accessories to support the realization of the eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit®: Gadgets and voluntary funding.

eDelfino® Voce - Only for the Italian market

Prototype Product #2

Patent for Utility Model No. 20202300000015

Compact, with dual mini-jack audio output, with dual set of speakers and microphone, customizable and containing fire-resistant materials

VDPROJECT.eu® Development of RAGGIUNGIMI ("Reach Me"):

APP FOR QUICK CALLING AND LOCATION TRANSMISSION

Ph-u-lmine™ eCall Box

Other inventions related to vehicle systems

AUTOMATIC GUIDANCE SYSTEM SUBSTITUTING THE DRIVER IN CASE OF MALAISE OR CRITICAL CONDITIONS

Italian Patent nos. 102019000020320 and 102020000018934

The opinion about the invention - The opinion about the invention:

• <<The problem to be solved by the present invention may be regarded as improving the safety of road vehicles>> and

• <<These features (...) credibly solve the stated problem>> with reference to the features of the new system.

PHOTOVOLTAIC DATALOGGER WITH

SAFETY ALARM FOR OVERTEMPERATURE AND ABNORMAL OVERHEATING

VDPROJECT.eu® for creation and development

Prototype Product #3

Temporarily for the Italian market, applicable throughout Europe

Low-cost data logger for photovoltaic systems and electrical systems connected to photovoltaic systems optionally with a storage system and an EPS which, once connected to a pyranometer and temperature sensors for photovoltaic arrays, performs the following minimum functions:

- Recording and sampling of local, plane-of-array (solar) irradiance POA with a minimum period/interval of 30s as required by EN 61724-1 and the respective CEI EN 61724-1 in force

- Recording and sampling of the temperature of photovoltaic panels with a minimum period of 30s, for arrays or with a higher density

also as a function of the number of sensors installed, fulfilling the requirements of EN 61724-1 and the respective CEI EN 61724-1

- Alarm for abnormal temperature on photovoltaic panels and/or for abnormal electrical status of sensors, measured in terms of voltage

- Power supply from the electrical system with inverter and/or battery.

On request: Display of acquired data, GPS positioning and synchronization at a higher cost

Prototype and design service for data and event recorders to be sold in the quantities allowed for this startup

The prototype is shown and explained below in the context of a complete design for Class B photovoltaic systems, as defined by CEI EN 61724-1, which includes the entire photovoltaic system and the basic software for downloading the meteorological and satellite data of global horizontal (solar) irradiance.

EU Declaration of Conformity available, it can be sent upon request

Please refer to the images below for more details

*Local POA irradiance data checked with ENEA public data in terms of energy and with RSE data in terms of irradiance on the horizontal plane to verify their correctness, as well as with instruments calibrated on site, with satellite and simulated data

**Sample irradiance data published as an example of the operation of the VDPROJECT S.R.L.'s system, related to the second half of April 2024

*** The irradiance measured on site is the POA = Irradiance on the plane of an array of photovoltaic panels, marked also as Gi, whereas the software depicted below automatically dowloads the GHI Global Horizontal Irradiance values from national public databases and measurement services, the Italian ones in the screenshot, as required by EN 61724-1

**** The monitoring system with automatic safety functions, which measures both the POA and the temperatures of the photovoltaic panels per string at least, can be optionally provided with a display to view the measured values and interact with the device - display available on request for cost reasons

***** Irradiance on-site measurement service available on request, both before and after installation of a photovoltaic system to evaluate its actual performance and efficiency

****** Additional weather forecasts available.

Photovoltaic PV installations

Electrical systems

This photograph has been taken with the permission of the Customer of VDPROJECT S.R.L., whom the company thanks sincerely, and it refers to the renewal of an existing electrical system.

Style,

Colour,

Systems Engineering,

Project Management,

Compliance, Conformity,

and Safety

are joined together in the electrical subsystems and/or in the electrics engineered by VDPROJECT S.R.L.

(*) within a defined probability as a function of the current value

Other engineering activities here clicking The company and its services

FAQ: Answers to some questions received

• What are the differences between a device like eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit® and the iPhoneTM apps when making emergency calls?

• Can eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit® also make normal calls?

Current answers:

• This product description is based on currently technical aspects which can be published and keeps confidentiality on all other aspects of product development. It may be updated periodically.

• eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit® is a patented product, unique in its kind, dedicated to eCall and emergency calls; it is designed to be applicable on all helmets, including motorcycle helmets, bicycle helmets and similar ones.

• The first version of eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit® bases its operation in Italy and Europe on the eCall system and function, precisely on the automatic emergency call system for vehicles regulated and recognized, also legally, in Europe. The eCall-type emergency call consists of:

1. a MSD message containing data useful for locating the caller and identifying the vehicle with which the accident occurred or on which the caller is travelling when the emergency occurs
2. optional addtional data within the MSD about the caller's vitality status in the specific case of eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit®, which consist in blood pressure and possibly heart rate measured on the user's carotid at the time at which the emergency call is triggered and later during the call

• Apps and similar software installed in iPhoneTM and similar smartphones or cell phones are not designed to be used with helmets or motorcycles or similar vehicles, as publicly declared for example by Apple itself. Such apps are neither capable of performing the eCall function, especially the MSD transmission, nor designed to automatically call 112, but they are based on a simple voice call to 112 which has to be activated manually; therefore, these apps result less likely to successfully perform an emergency call and transmit the caller's location in an emergency. For example, they may not be able to transmit the caller's location due to the unavailability, breakage or other problems on the cell phone microphone or due to the absence of location systems on the receiving side. In a normal call to 112 or a similar short number for emergencies, among other important aspects, it is not guaranteed that the officers or staff receving the emergency call will have a system ready to show the caller location, whereas a system of this kind is present in the PSAP stations dedicated to eCall

• Furthermore, in some cases and if not correctly developed, the apps could interfere with the real voice of the caller and this does not happen in the case of eCall, also as performed by eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit®, as long as this company is allowed to use the eCall-related technology. The purity of the audio of the eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® allows, for example, to perceive the wheezing, breathing or words spoken in a low voice of a person with reduced or absent state of consciousness, but still vital and therefore in need of immediate and urgent assistance. Similarly,  eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® also allows rescuers to detect the presence of at least a caller without voice and to provide these people with adequate assistance. This happens without any manual intervention, unlike the apps installed on Apple mobile phones.

• Another important difference between the app installed on iPhoneTM and the eCall emergency call function, as performed by eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit®, consists in cancelling the emergency call before it is performed, which is allowed by iPhoneTM and not allowed by eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® in its first and final version, as required by the technical regulations applicable to IVS systems for eCall. VDPROJECT S.R.L. just briefly reminds that preventing timely assistance in the event of an accident with injuries, deaths or people in danger is a crime, known in Italy at least with the name of "Failure to provide rescue in an emergency - Omissione di soccorso" and with equivalents in all European countries, as you can read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue. For this reason, the eCall is activated in all the cases in which an accident is detected and the user can ask the rescuer not to intervene if they deem that the assistance or rescue is not necessary for themselves and the others who may be involved in that situation.

• eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit® contains two units that can perform the eCall or the emergency call, while most mobile phones and smartphones contain only one unit which performs the voice call to 112 in Europe.

• Among the many differences between eDelfino Helmet Flexible eUnit® and the aforementioned mobile phone apps is the fact that none of these apps are able to provide useful data about the impact on the user's head caused by a fall.

I would like to thank again all the people and each person who has shown interest in eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® to the current date. This activity requires continuous support; should you be interested in eDelfino® Helmet Flexible eUnit® in its first version or in its continuous development, in other Engineering activities of VDPROJECT S.R.L. or in taking your contribution to this company, please feel free to write to info@vdproject.eu.