Fascination With Technology Safely Operate Navigation, Telephony, And More Via the Handle

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In our "Fascination with Technology" section, we present impressive projects from research and development to designers every week. Today: How AI-based gesture control and haptic feedback for handles aim to make motorcycling safer.

For a comfortable riding experience, motorcycles are increasingly being equipped with advanced technologies—from infotainment systems that combine functions like navigation or radio to helmets with integrated communication systems. However, as their operation during the ride poses risks, TH Köln and the Brehmergroup are working on an alternative control system via the motorcycle handles.

Classic infotainment systems in motorcycles are operated using buttons on the handlebars and helmet, and in more modern vehicles, via touchscreens.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Böhmer

"In vehicles, the use of touch screens can be highly distracting, as the driver's eyes repeatedly have to shift away from the road," explains Prof. Dr. Matthias Böhmer from the Cologne Institute for Digital Ecosystems (CIDE) at TH Köln. Another example is helmet communication: "To adjust the volume, one hand has to move from the handlebars to the helmet. If the emergency brake assistant activates during the ride, riders may not have both hands on the handlebars at the critical moment, increasing the risk of an accident," says Böhmer.

In a research and development project on human-technology interaction, a team from CIDE is working together with the Brehmergroup to minimize these safety risks. The starting point is a patent for heated grips, which Thomas Brehmer, founder of the Brehmergroup, received back in 2006. The heated grips are already standard on BMW motorcycles. In 2025, Brehmer and technical director Moritz Schmidt expanded this development and patented the first intelligent heated grip with grip recognition. In the new project, the researchers aim to further enhance this technology with AI-based grip and gesture recognition as well as haptic feedback.

Sensors in Handles Detect Tapping, Swiping, or Squeezing

"The sensors are intended to detect how many fingers are on the grip and recognize gestures such as swiping or tapping. For example, a call could be answered by squeezing the grip. The turn signal could be activated by swiping the thumb from inside to outside over the grip," explains Böhmer. The haptic feedback could support the navigation function, for instance, by making the left grip vibrate quickly when a left turn is required.

"The system aims to make operating various functions more intuitive while significantly enhancing driving safety at the same time," says Böhmer. The project partner has already been able to demonstrate that the heating film, which is already installed in most motorcycle grips and protected by the Brehmergroup, can fundamentally be expanded to include an input field. This simplifies the technical implementation and makes it relatively cost-effective. In the future, the new technology is also intended to be transferable to other two-wheelers like e-bikes or scooters.

About the project

The research and development project "Development of Novel Grips with Capacitive Input Field and Active Haptics for More Efficient and Safer Hands-on Detection and Interaction on Electrified Two-Wheelers" (HoDi) is led at TH Köln by Prof. Dr. Matthias Böhmer from the Cologne Institute for Digital Ecosystems (CIDE). On behalf of the Brehmergroup, which specializes in custom product development, environmental simulation, and industrialization in the mechatronics sector, the project is managed by technical lead Moritz Schmidt. The subproject at TH Köln is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy through the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) with approximately $259,130 USD until November 2026.

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