A Smart Helmet with Selective Noise Control Borderless Inc. IP

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Borderless’ CrossSound Control technology lets motorcycle riders choose the external sounds they want to hear

Borderless Inc. CEO Arata Oono has been a motorcycle enthusiast since high school. Having experienced his share of accidents and injuries, he resolved to use the power of industrial design to make life safer for himself and his fellow riders. The CrossHelmet is the result.

“When riding a motorbike, the two major factors that increase the risk of accident are blind spots and noise,” explains Borderless CEO Arata Oono. While blind spots occur in practically every vehicle, noise is a special hindrance to motorcycle riders. Wind, road traffic and engine noise all reverberate in a rider’s helmet, stressing his or her senses and concentration, causing fatigue and even hearing loss, and ultimately increasing the likelihood of driver error.


The CrossHelmet uses patent-pending selective noise control technology to reduce the likelihood of driver error.

Borderless’ CrossHelmet is part of a new wave of high-tech “smart helmets” for motorcycles that aims to address these issues with innovative driver-assist and accident-prevention features.

CrossSound Control Technology

While a number of other smart helmets in development tackle the vision problem in various ways, what sets the CrossHelmet apart is CrossSound Control, a patent-pending technology that allows the wearer to selectively reduce or enhance environmental noise.

In contrast to typical noise-canceling technology, which blocks all outside noise, CrossSound Control allows the user to select the sound ranges they want to hear and want to block – voices, wind noise, etc. The device is housed in a 50-millimeter-diameter unit secured behind the lining of the helmet.

Oono sees the device as ideal for delivery companies and makers of wearable devices. He further envisions the technology enhancing noise-canceling headphones, giving wearers better awareness of external auditory cues. The device could also be placed on a wall to effectively counteract a noisy neighbor or street noise.


Borderless Inc. CEO Arata Oono has been a motorcycle enthusiast since high school.

Connected Bike Network

CrossHelmet’s settings are controlled using an in-development app that syncs via Bluetooth. It will have three main features: a four-band equalizer to engage CrossSound Control, a navigation system projected onto a heads-up display, and a group talk feature that allows bands of bikers to keep in verbal contact throughout their tour.

Oono also plans to release a software development kit (SDK) to spur collaboration, turning the app into a platform for what he calls the Connected Bike Network.


The dedicated CrossHelmet app will have three main features; courtesy of Borderless Inc.

The CrossHelmet is currently on track to begin mass production by the end of 2016, with a 2017 rollout. Oono set up a Silicon Valley office in 2015, and aims to expand to Europe within the next five to 10 years.

With the CrossHelmet on the way, the future of motorcycling looks to be both safer and better connected than ever.

Based on interview in September 2016


The Connected Bike Network will allow CrossHelmet devices to communicate with each other around the world; courtesy of Borderless Inc.


Website: Borderless Inc.External site: a new window will open.