Final Project — HUD Helmet

📌 Project Concept

This final project is a HUD helmet designed to improve rider safety and awareness. The helmet combines environmental monitoring and nearby-object detection in one integrated wearable system. As initial project, I will display these information and future expansion of the project is to integrate it with a Mobile to show directions or even Phone calls alert.

The system is built to provide the rider with:

• Temperature display to monitor surrounding or internal helmet conditions.
• Blind-spot warning alerts when an object or vehicle is detected behind/near the rider.
• Compact embedded control using the ESP32-C3 SuperMini.

⭐ Core Features

• Temperature Monitoring

  A temperature sensor reads data and sends it to the display or HUD output.

• Blind-Spot Warning

  Distance or proximity sensors detect nearby objects and trigger alerts on the HUD with the distance.

• ESP32-C3 SuperMini Control

  Central controller processes sensor readings and manages output behavior.

• Compact Wearable Integration

  Electronics are intended to fit inside or around the helmet and the helmet visor structure.

🔌 Electronics Overview

The main controller of the project is the ESP32-C3 SuperMini, selected for its small size, wireless capability, and suitability for compact embedded systems.

🧩 System Design

The system architecture is centered around the ESP32-C3 SuperMini, which receives input from sensors, processes the data, and decides which warnings or display information should be shown to the user.

• Input 1: temperature sensor
• Input 2: blind-spot / distance detection sensor
• Processing: ESP32-C3 SuperMini logic and threshold evaluation
• Output: display data and warning alert

🛠️ Development Workflow

• Define the helmet safety problem and desired user interaction.
• Select the controller and sensors.
• Prototype the electronics on breadboard or simulation.
• Program the ESP32-C3 SuperMini to read sensors and control outputs.
• Integrate the electronics into the helmet structure.
• Test functionality and improve comfort, reliability, and alert clarity.

💻 Programming Logic

The firmware reads temperature and blind-spot sensor values continuously, then compares the values against defined thresholds. Depending on the result, the system updates the display and activates warning outputs when needed.

// Example pseudocode
setup():
  initialize display
  initialize temperature sensor
  initialize blind-spot sensor
  initialize warning output

loop():
  read temperature
  read blind-spot distance

  display current temperature

  if blind-spot distance is below threshold:
      show warning on display
      activate alert
  else:
      clear warning

  delay short interval
  

    #include "Wire.h"
#include "SPI.h"
#include "Adafruit_Sensor.h"
#include "Adafruit_BMP3XX.h"
#include "Adafruit_GFX.h"
#include "Adafruit_SSD1306.h"
#include "afstandssensor.h"

#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 64
#define OLED_RESET    -1

Adafruit_SSD1306 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire, OLED_RESET);

//Define Left Sensor
AfstandsSensor afstandssensor(0, 1); 

//Define Right Sensor
AfstandsSensor vRightSensor(2, 3); 

//Connect Vcc-3.3V, Gnd-Gnd, SCL-D22, SDA-D21 (0.96 inch OLED - ESP32 DEV KIT V1)
//CODE_NO: 02

#define BMP_SCK 13
#define BMP_MISO 12
#define BMP_MOSI 11
#define BMP_CS 10

#define SEALEVELPRESSURE_HPA (1020.0)

Adafruit_BMP3XX bmp;
float vDistance = 0;
float vRightDistance = 0;

void getDistance() {
  Serial.println(afstandssensor.afstandCM());
  vDistance = afstandssensor.afstandCM();

  Serial.println(vRightSensor.afstandCM());
  vRightDistance = vRightSensor.afstandCM();
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  
 
Wire.begin(5, 4); 
  display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);
  
  display.display();
  while (!Serial);
  Serial.println("Adafruit BMP388 / BMP390 test");

  if (!bmp.begin_I2C()) {   // hardware I2C mode, can pass in address & alt Wire
    Serial.println("Could not find a valid BMP3 sensor, check wiring!");
    while (1);
    if (! bmp.performReading()) {
    Serial.println("Failed to perform reading :(");
    return;
    }
  }

  // Set up oversampling and filter initialization
  bmp.setTemperatureOversampling(BMP3_OVERSAMPLING_8X);
  bmp.setPressureOversampling(BMP3_OVERSAMPLING_4X);
  bmp.setIIRFilterCoeff(BMP3_IIR_FILTER_COEFF_3);
  bmp.setOutputDataRate(BMP3_ODR_50_HZ);

  display.clearDisplay();
}



void loop() {
  // Clear display for redraw
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextSize(1);             // Draw 2X-scale text
  display.setTextColor(WHITE);
  display.setCursor(0,0);
  display.print(String(bmp.temperature));
  display.print(" c");
  display.display();

//   Serial.print(bmp.temperature);
//   Serial.println(" *C");

//   Serial.print("Pressure = ");
//   Serial.print(bmp.pressure / 100.0);
//   Serial.println(" hPa");

//   Serial.print("Approx. Altitude = ");
//   Serial.print(bmp.readAltitude(SEALEVELPRESSURE_HPA));
//   Serial.println(" m");

//   Serial.println();

  Serial.println("Displaying Ultrasonic Sensor");
  getDistance();
  if (vDistance < 150)
  {
    display.setTextSize(2);             // Draw 2X-scale text
    display.setTextColor(WHITE);
    display.setCursor(0,30);
    display.print("L:" + String(vDistance));
    display.print(" m");
    display.display();
  }else
  {
    display.setTextSize(1);             // Draw 2X-scale text
    display.setTextColor(WHITE);
    display.setCursor(0,30);
    display.print("");
    
    display.display();
  }

  if (vRightDistance < 150)
  {
    display.setTextSize(2);             // Draw 2X-scale text
    display.setTextColor(WHITE);
    display.setCursor(0,50);
    display.print("R:" + String(vRightDistance));
    display.print(" m");
    display.display();
  }else
  {
    display.setTextSize(1);             // Draw 2X-scale text
    display.setTextColor(WHITE);
    display.setCursor(0,30);
    display.print("");
    
    display.display();
  }

  Serial.println("Displaying Right Ultrasonic Sensor");
  Serial.println("Right Sensor:" + String(vRightDistance));

  delay(2000);
}
  
        
  

🧪 Testing & Validation

The project should be tested in stages to make sure each part works correctly before full integration.

Test	Purpose	Expected Result
Temperature sensor test	Verify sensor reading accuracy	Correct temperature displayed
Blind-spot sensor test	Check nearby object detection	Warning triggers at set threshold
Display output test	Ensure readable information	Clear, stable output
Integrated system test	Verify all modules work together	Real-time sensing and warning