The BicycleCompanion Is a Low-Power Computer Aimed at Bicycle Touring

There are plenty of bicycle computers on the market that provide cyclists a wealth of information, including position, temperature, and other telemetry. Still, a lot of those offered can drain batteries at a quick rate, which means the rider has to carry spares or a power bank. For professional riders, the extra added weight means reduced speeds and fatigue, potential detriments when riding in competitions. Hardware developer Matias N. is currently developing a low-power computer that packs most of the same features as commercial solutions, but consumes much less power and is open source so that it can be modified to the rider's preferences.

Matias' BicycleCompanion is still in development, so the final specs are not set in stone. That said, the computer is designed for long-term use, and provides a host of information, such as speed, distance, temperature, air pressure, and altitude. It includes a compass, calendar, alarm, and even storm warnings, all without requiring a smartphone to garner any information or for additional functionality.

Matias is currently working on a prototype and has defined the following specs for the BicycleCompanion, which consist of an STM32L476 MCU, a Sharp Memory LCD display (128 x 128), four tactile buttons, and a LiPo battery (unknown). It will also feature EEPROM for data storage, an RTC, a battery level indicator, a USB port (programming/recharging), and a 3D-printed case.

"BicycleCompanion was originally designed as a Teensy shield (which was never built) and then as a custom board based on the low-cost STM32F103 microcontroller (check early logs of this project) and using an OLED for display," Matias notes on his detailed project page. "This board was built, but it was too power-hungry. Moreover, it lacked any other interesting sensors to justify its use. Therefore, BicycleCompanion design is the result of this evolution."

It will be interesting to see the final version of Matias' BicycleCompanion!