NAD, the industrial group of which SHAD is a part, has joined forces with Yamaha to develop the first case for motorcycles with keyless technology based on induction—a milestone that redefines the way in which accessories are connected to bikes. This innovation debuts on the new Yamaha Tracer 9 GT and represents a qualitative leap forward in terms of functionality, convenience, and security.
Most keyless solutions found on the market connect the bike to the electronic control unit with cables or super connectors.
The innovation presented by NAD involves the use of a technology called WPT (Wireless Power Transfer), in which two plates (an emitter and a receiver) transfer energy by proximity, without any metal-on-metal contact taking place.
The use of this technology avoids possible connection problems caused by water, moisture, dirt and wear of the connectors. It also makes it easier to attach and remove the cases, since there are no sort of cables or connectors to get in the way.
This energy transfer also makes it possible to open and close the case, while providing a courtesy light or a USB charging port. What’s more, if the bike starts to move while the case is still open, the electronic control unit will send a signal to automatically close it once the bike reaches a speed of 10 km/h.
The main technological challenge NAD faced was related to the time needed for the emitter and the receiver to link to each other. At the start, this time was around 5 seconds, which is considered excessive in light of the project goals. Thanks to the software redesign, they managed to reduce this protocol to a mere 0.6 seconds, making the pairing almost instantaneous, thus improving the user experience.
Cutting edge electronics applied to motorcycle cases
A team of NAD electronic and mechanical engineers participated in the project, investing around 4,000 hours and completing more than 10,000 km of test rides. All components have also been internationally certified for their industrialization and marketing. The project has overcome all the challenges it faced over the four years it took to develop the bike and its accessories.
NAD is currently participating in several projects related to electronics in cases, which makes us a leading player in this type of technology around the world.
