MotoGlove: Towards the Estimation of Rider Effort through Pressure Sensitive Gloves

Motorcycling as a sport encompasses various disciplines involving the recreational and competitive use of motorcycles. These activities can range from road racing on tarmac to off-road racing on dirt, sand, or mud tracks. Understanding rider effort is key to enhance riding performance and experience. Methods for capturing rider effort currently rely on post-ride surveys, providing a global perception of the ride but are typically unable to capture effort in detailed situations. This paper explores the use of a pressure sensitive motorcycle glove and pressure sensitive handlebar grips to estimate riding effort. We introduce the technology and discuss the potential based on a small explorative trial (N=1) which provides first insights into rider effort and data from the MotoGlove. Preliminary observations show the potential to better understand rider effort at specific moments during the ride. This work serves as the basis of future intelligent systems to support motorcyclists real-world rides.