Futuristic motorcycle navigating a winding road with enhanced safety technology.

Staying Safe on Two Wheels: How Advanced Tech Can Help

Soraya Malik in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how cutting-edge tech like LPV observers can improve motorcycle safety by reconstructing road geometry and steering dynamics, making every ride safer and smoother."

Motorcycle riding offers an unparalleled sense of freedom, but it also comes with significant safety challenges. Unlike cars, motorcycles require a high degree of skill and awareness to handle, and even the most experienced riders can face unexpected dangers.

Fortunately, advancements in technology are paving the way for safer motorcycle rides. One of the most promising areas is the development of Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS). These systems use a variety of sensors and algorithms to monitor the motorcycle's dynamics, road conditions, and rider inputs, providing crucial information to enhance safety and handling.

This article delves into a specific type of ARAS technology that focuses on road geometry and steering reconstruction. By estimating parameters like road bank angle and rider steering torque, these systems can help riders maintain control and stability, even in challenging situations.

Understanding Motorcycle Dynamics and Road Geometry Reconstruction

Futuristic motorcycle navigating a winding road with enhanced safety technology.

The key to improving motorcycle safety lies in accurately understanding the complex interplay of forces and factors that govern its motion. These include the motorcycle's roll angle, yaw rate, and tire cornering forces, as well as the rider's steering inputs and the geometry of the road.

Estimating these parameters in real-time is a difficult task, as many of them are not directly measurable with inexpensive sensors. While some states, like yaw rate, can be readily measured, others, such as tire cornering forces, require more sophisticated estimation techniques. Traditional methods often rely on integrating inertial sensor data, but this can lead to errors accumulating over time, especially when uncertainties in road geometry (like slope and bank angles) are present.

Roll Angle: The angle at which the motorcycle leans relative to the vertical axis. Crucial for stability and turning.
Yaw Rate: The rate at which the motorcycle is turning. Provides insight into the rider's steering inputs and the motorcycle's response.
Tire Cornering Forces: The forces generated by the tires as they turn, which are essential for maintaining grip and controlling the motorcycle's trajectory.
Road Bank Angle: The angle of the road surface, which can significantly affect the motorcycle's stability and handling.
Rider Steering Torque: The force applied by the rider to the handlebars, which directly influences the motorcycle's steering angle and direction.

Model-based estimators offer a promising solution to these challenges. By using mathematical models of the motorcycle's dynamics, these estimators can provide accurate estimates of unmeasured states and relevant parameters, even in the presence of uncertainties. One such approach is the use of Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) observers, which are designed to handle the variations in motorcycle dynamics caused by changes in forward velocity.

The Future of Motorcycle Safety

The technologies discussed here represent a significant step forward in motorcycle safety. By accurately estimating road geometry and rider inputs, these systems can provide valuable assistance to riders, helping them maintain control and avoid accidents. As these technologies continue to develop and become more widely adopted, we can look forward to a future where motorcycle riding is safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1109/itsc.2018.8569422, Alternate LINK

Title: Road Geometry And Steering Reconstruction For Powered Two Wheeled Vehicles

Journal: 2018 21st International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC)

Publisher: IEEE

Authors: M. Fouka, L. Nehaoua, D. Ichalal, H. Arioui, S. Mammar

Published: 2018-11-01

Everything You Need To Know

How do Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS) improve motorcycle safety?

Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS) enhance motorcycle safety by employing sensors and algorithms to monitor the motorcycle's dynamics, road conditions, and rider inputs. This provides riders with critical information that can improve handling and overall safety. These systems estimate road geometry and steering, enabling riders to maintain control even in difficult conditions.

How do Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) observers contribute to motorcycle safety, and what makes them effective?

Model-based estimators, such as Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) observers, leverage mathematical models of motorcycle dynamics to estimate unmeasured states and parameters. LPV observers are specifically designed to handle variations in motorcycle dynamics caused by changes in forward velocity, providing accurate estimations even with uncertainties. This enhances the accuracy of road geometry and steering reconstruction.

What are the key factors involved in understanding motorcycle dynamics and road geometry reconstruction, and why are they important?

Key factors in understanding motorcycle dynamics are roll angle, yaw rate, tire cornering forces, road bank angle, and rider steering torque. Roll angle is the lean of the motorcycle. Yaw rate indicates the turning rate. Tire cornering forces are essential for grip. Road bank angle influences stability, and rider steering torque directly affects the motorcycle's steering. Accurately estimating these elements is critical for maintaining control and stability.

Why is estimating road geometry, specifically the road bank angle, so important, and what challenges are associated with its estimation?

Estimating road geometry, particularly the road bank angle, is crucial because it significantly impacts a motorcycle's stability and handling. Traditional methods of estimating these parameters often rely on integrating inertial sensor data, but this can lead to accumulated errors, especially when uncertainties in road geometry are present. Advanced systems, like LPV observers, offer a more accurate estimation by using mathematical models to account for these uncertainties.

What is the anticipated future impact of Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS) and Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) observers on motorcycle safety?

The development and widespread adoption of technologies like Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS) and Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) observers promise a future where motorcycle riding is safer and more enjoyable. By accurately estimating road geometry and rider inputs, these systems offer valuable assistance to riders, helping them to maintain control and avoid accidents. Continuous advancements and broader implementation of these technologies can significantly reduce the safety challenges associated with motorcycle riding.