TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taipei Cycle Show (台北國際自行車展) opened Wednesday (March 25), featuring AI-powered bicycles, electric scooters, and smart helmets with emergency calling capabilities. The annual trade exhibition, one of Asia's largest cycling industry events, showcases cutting-edge mobility technology from leading manufacturers. Organizers focused this year's event on integrating artificial intelligence into personal transportation, offering visitors a glimpse into smart mobility's future.
Acer (宏碁), the Taiwanese computer manufacturer expanding into mobility technology, unveiled electric assist bikes and scooters featuring voice control through smartphones. Users can lock, unlock, and locate their vehicles using phones or smartwatches, while the system alerts owners if someone attempts to move a locked vehicle. The company's Smart Mobility Division developed the AI-integrated systems to enhance both convenience and security for urban commuters and families.
The AI technology enables users to control lights and locks through mobile or smartwatch apps, streamlining the user experience. This year, Acer added iOS-compatible features to foldable electric assist bikes and scooters, expanding accessibility for Apple device users. A dedicated app allows users to locate parked vehicles and navigate directly to them, addressing a common challenge for urban cyclists and scooter riders.
Tsai Chieh-chih (蔡傑智), director of Acer's Smart Mobility Division (智慧移動事業處), highlighted the voice control capabilities at the exhibition. "By integrating AI functions, users can easily control the system with voice commands," Tsai said. "Once the scooter is locked, it will issue an alert if someone tries to move it." The technology enhances both security and convenience for users navigating Taiwan's crowded urban environments.
Bluetooth system developers unveiled the RiLAX smart helmet, allowing up to eight users to connect simultaneously for calls, music, and navigation. A product manager surnamed Hsieh (謝) explained the helmet automatically dials emergency numbers if the wearer falls. "If a person falls while wearing the helmet and is unable to move, they can still make a call as long as the helmet is on," Hsieh stated.
New technologies, including fingerprint recognition, further enhance user convenience, according to exhibitors at the show. Touch buttons on helmets allow users to adjust volume and control music playback without removing their hands from handlebars, improving safety during rides. AI technology increases convenience while providing an additional safety net for cyclists and scooter riders navigating Taiwan's busy streets. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.89)