Puns aside, Palo Alto-based “Revolights” are the latest lighting solution to turn up on our ever-turning radar. At first glance, it looks like a revision of “Project Aura,” except that the rim-mounted LEDs somehow illuminate directly in front and behind the wheels in addition to the sides. This, of course, was the only major criticism of the otherwise very highly-regarded design, and I was curious as to how designer Kent Frankovich and his team surmounted this flaw.

revolights. join the revolution. from revolights on Vimeo.

It turns out that, for all the ostensible semblance between the two designs, Frankovich’s approach is quite different from that of Ethan Frier and Jonathan Ota. The similarities end at the concept of rim-mounted LEDs: where “Project Aura’s” lights were integrating into the rim along its inner circumference, “Revolights” actually consist of a piece of hardware that runs just along the rim. The diameter of the ring is slightly smaller than the rim itself, such that it is clipped to the outside of the spokes. The battery pack is attached to the hub, while a magnet in the fork detects the speed (as in most cycling computers).

Check out the full post at Core77 to learn more.

-Via Core77