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BMW Brings Emergency SOS “eCall” System to Motorcycles

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In an effort to improve safety for motorcyclists, BMW Motorrad has developed what it calls an “Intelligent Emergency Call” system, which allows motorcyclists to call for help with the touch of a button on their motorcycle

The system is part of a larger push in Europe for an “eCall” emergency SOS program that would alert emergency personnel to a vehicle crash with greater expediency and efficiency.

According to the pan-European eCall trial, systems like BMW’s can bring emergency services to a crash scene 40% to 50% faster, and the European Commission estimates that an eCall system like BMW’s could save up to 2,500 lives each year (saving €26 billion in the process, as well).

The BMW Intelligent Emergency Call feature has been available on cars in Europe since 1999, and by will be mandatory for vehicles in the EU by 2018. To aid two-wheeled motorists, BMW Motorrad hopes to bring eCall technology to motorcycles by 2017.

BMW’s eCall system can be manually or automatically triggered after an event, and it sends out position data to the eCall cross-border call center.

The system relies on cellular phone networks, so you can’t get too off the grid with the service (unlike satellite supported services like SPOT), but for the SOS to work, not specific network provider is required.

Once connected, a rider can talk to an operator, in their native language, through a speakerphone that’s attached to the SOS system. Using sophisticated sensors, the BMW Intelligent Emergency Call system will not activate with a mere tip-over, though riders have the ability to end an SOS call with the touch of a button.

BMW Motorrad illustrates three scenarios where the eCall on its motorcycles could be used:

Scenario 1: Automatic triggering in the case of a bad fall / collision.

The emergency call is automatically triggered without time delay, sending a message to a qualified BMW Call Center. The accident victim/rider is taken care of by the BMW Call Center via audio connection until the emergency service arrives.

Help is sent out in any case even if there is no response. A display in the instrument cluster shows that the eCall has been initiated. An acoustic signal is also set off. In this case the rider cannot cancel the emergency call any more.

Scenario 2: Automatic triggering in the case of a minor fall / collision.

In this case the emergency call is only triggered after 25 seconds before sending a message to the BMW Call Center. If no help is necessary after only a non-serious accident, the accident victim/rider has the opportunity of cancelling the emergency call at the press of a button.

If he does not cancel, the rescue chain is initiated as in scenario 1. A display in the instrument cluster shows that the eCall has been initiated. An acoustic signal is also set off.

Scenario 3: Manual triggering by pressing a button

In this case the eCall is triggered manually by pressing the SOS button on the right handlebar end, e.g. for calling help for other road users in need. A message is sent to the BMW Call Center and a voice connection is established.

A voice connection is mandatory if the eCall was triggered manually before further measures are initiated. Here too, the accident victim/rider is also given the opportunity to cancel the emergency call at the press of a button or by turning off the ignition.

The intelligent emergency call can only be triggered manually when the motorcycle is stationary with the ignition on.

The plan is for eCall to be available in all European countries, so American riders will have to sit and wait until a similar protocol can be developed on this side of the pond. It sounds like a pretty good idea to us though.

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Source: BMW Motorrad

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