A smart new bicycle lock can connect to local Wi-Fi hotspots and alert its owner when someone tries to move or steal the bike.
According to gizmodo.com, the Skylock is linked to a dedicated smartphone app. When the bike is locked up and connected to a nearby wireless internet connection, it can keep an eye on the user’s ride. Essentially, it has built in accelerometers, which can detect when the bike is being knocked around a lot. The lock then sends a push notification to the user’s phone, so they can go out and stop anyone who’s trying to steal their bike. Users are able to change the sensitivity as they wish, so that they’re not alerted every time someone accidentally knocks their bike.
The Skylock also makes it possible to share a bike with a friend. As long as it’s connected to Wi-Fi, the user is able to unlock it from afar using their smartphone, making the bike ready for them or their friend to ride.
When someone is riding on the bike with the lock attached, the accelerometers can detect when the user crashes. The smartphone app will then ask them whether they are okay and if they don’t respond within a certain amount of time, the emergency services will be called automatically and given the rider’s location.
The Skylock is powered by solar energy and costs $159 to preorder, reports nbcnews.com.
