Damon Motorcycles raises $2.5 million for AI-based safety tech

A BC-based startup has raised $2.5 million in funding to develop safety technology for motorcycles.

Damon Motorcycles is working on a collision avoidance system aimed at motorcyclists, developed from the start for vulnerable road users who need 360 degrees of protection. According to Damon, most onboard safety systems are aimed at the automobile market, and offer less safety for riders as a result. The company’s Advanced Warning System for Motorcycles uses a combination of cellular technology, artificial intelligence and onboard sensors to keep the rider out of danger.

Here’s how it works: Motorcycles with the Damon system would have onboard sensors that detect what’s going on in the environment in every direction. An onboard computer system analyzes that information and feeds it to a cloud network via 5G cell networks. From there, an artificial intelligence system analyzes the data, and transmits a warning signal to the motorcycle (by haptic, audio or visual feedback) if it determines there’s danger of a collision.

Damon says its AI system is constantly examining data from thousands of miles of road travel, using this to always be refining its crash prediction warning system.

Damon also says motorcycle manufacturers are examining its technology, evaluating it for possible use on future models. As well, it also has fleet customers supposedly interested in its technology, as a way to reduce downtime due to injuries—according to Damon, fleets that use motorcycles can have as many as 10 per cent of their users miss work due to bike-induced injuries. Damon says its safety systems can help prevent that, and that the company’s ultimate goal is to have the number of fatalities on Damon-enabled vehicles reduced to zero by 2030.

Damon’s ideas have convinced enough investors to raise $2.5 million from partners like Round 13 Capital, Techstars, Extreme Venture Partners and Pallasite Ventures. Will Damon follow up with practical, innovative tech that makes it to market? Or will this be Canada’s version of Skully? Stay tuned!