International Dealer News IDN EICMA Extra 2015 | Page 8

PRO GuIDe

eCall system for motorcycles IDN's New Product of the Year
This year's EICMA saw many new products making
their exclusive world premieres at the show, but the
one that really caught our attention here at
International Dealer News and MotoWEEK is what
is believed to be the first ever commercially available
off-the-shelf automatic eCall system for motorcycles.
Founded in Germany in 1991 as a service provider
for electronics manufacturing and development,
Digades GmbH evolved into a system supplier in the
automotive, building and infrastructure industries.
Their specialist knowledge in radio transmission
systems, miniaturisation and energy efficient
electronics design took them into developing eCall
technology for the automotive sector - customers
include the likes of Audi, Bentley, BMW, Daimler and
VW to name a few - and now the company has
launched "dguard", an automatic eCall system
designed specifically for motorcycles.
The system processes data from several sensors that
monitor values like inclination, acceleration and
movement, and when all the system sensors report
the parameters that mean an accident has taken
place, it automatically connects the rider to the
country’s emergency call centre.
The system only needs two primary components to
be operational - the communication unit itself and
the dguard eCall sensor. A third component, the
"dguard" eCall button, fits on the handlebar and
gives the rider control of the system - including
override function and non-detected incident report
option; a "dguard" app is available to monitor the
status and correct installation of the system.
If the rider is incapacitated and unable to
communicate directly with the emergency response
team at the call centre themselves, then the call
centre will automatically send an ambulance to the
GPS coordinates of the accident, with nominated
family/friends also automatically notified of the
incident.
Shown at EICMA installed on a BMW R 1200 RT,
where the system components fit easily in the space
under the seat, and on a KTM 300 EXC they had been
using as a test platform, the unit sells as a selfcontained complete kit - once installed all that is
required is for the rider to then register the device for
the service provided by Digades. The service fee for
the first 2 years is included in the recommended retail
price.
By 2018 all new production cars sold in the EU will
have to have such systems fitted as standard, with
the required infrastructure available in Europe in
2017. However, so far, not much attention has been
paid to the needs of motorcyclists.

The dguard components fit neatly beneath the
seat - here seen installed on a BMW R1200 RT

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PRODUCT

OF THE YEAR

2015

The kit involves two primary components - the
data processor and communications unit, and the
inclination, acceleration and movement sensor;
Digades also recommend the optional handlebar
eCall button. An app is available to monitor
system status and provide warning and GPS alert
if the motorcycle is moved or stolen. The 'dguard'
system is believed to be the first aftermarket
"off-the-shelf" e-Call product.

it has been making to selected aftermarket parts,
accessory and apparel product manufacturers and
designers for some three years already, International
Dealer News is awarding the "dguard" its first
annual International Motorcycle Industry New
Product of the Year Award.
DIGADES
Zittau, GERMANY
Tel. [phone]
[e-mail]
www.dguard.com

CEO Lutz Berger
started the
business in 1991

This new "dguard" system also does double-duty as
a motorcycle tracker, informing the rider if the bike is
being moved without his or her consent.
However, in recognition of them being the first to
have such a system available for riders now, in an
extension of the HOT100 new product awards that

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - EICMA EXTRA 2015

Digades employ 150 plus people at their 4,000 sq
m facility near the Czech and Polish borders in
Germany. Heavy investors in R&D, they are low
energy, high power radio transmission specialists
who provide electronic systems and assemblies
for several blue chip automotive manufacturers