The method for fixing the helmet via rubber coated metal straps needs to be improved. When we tested our product on the aspect of security and theft resistance, we found that using two straps to secure the helmet still did not prevent the helmet from shifting out of place, and therefore made it still susceptible to theft. We also recognize that because the straps are coated in rubber, there may eventually be issues of wear and tear due to the inner layers being made of metal. This presents an issue of safety that need to resolve. To solve both of these problems, we plan on modifying the straps in a number of ways:

• Increase traction between the straps and the helmet: We plan on increasing the width of the straps in order to maximize surface contact with the helmet, and therefore increase security coverage by creating more traction between the strap material and that of the helmet.

• Increase tautness of straps: We plan on shortening the length of the straps relative to that of different helmet sizes either through offering different sizes or building in a new mechanism that allows the user themselves to adjust the strap length, similar to a belt. Increasing tautness will specifically allow the straps to rest flush against the helmet, holding it tight and therefore prevent thieving.

• Add strap attachments: Recognizing that two straps may not be enough, we have tested the additional security adding additional straps would provide and have found that adding another strap in the middle so that is parallel to the other two straps prevents the helmet from being stolen in the direction of the Z axis. A second strap addition that rests horizontally perpendicular to the existing straps, also adds an additional layer of protection within the same direction.

• Add mechanism to retract straps: While this solution was one that we wanted to prioritize for the beta prototype, time and mechanical constraints proved difficult to develop such a solution in this time frame. In the next product iteration, we would ideally like to give the user the ability to retract or condense the size of the straps when a helmet is not attached in order to ensure it does not detract from the bike riding experience or obstruct bike riding in any way.

• Incorporating maintenance for straps: To ensure the safety of our user, we will be incorporating maintenance costs into our business plan to account for rubber sealing replacement for straps that have experienced damage or wear and tear over time to ensure that the inner metal lining does not injure our users.

During our initial testing of the Beta prototype, we found that the area of the current cross frame was too large, which increase the potential obstruction a bike rider would face when riding their bicycle. We additionally found that for larger helmet sizes, a smaller base plate would not suffice in preventing the same obstruction, despite the top tube of the bike frame having the most surface area available for attaching our product. Even if the base plate and helmet were small enough, peer feedback helped us reflect on concerns of obstruction even when the helmet is not attached and issues around rider safety since the base plate is made of metal and currently has pointed edges. To solve these problems, we plan on modifying the base plate in a number of ways:

• Changing the base plate shape: We will use a V-shaped frame instead of the existing cross frame. A V-shaped base can also provide three points of support to ensure the stability of the helmet, while reducing the angles of the product, significantly lowering the potential danger of the product. The existing base frame also inspired us to re-select the product's attachment position on the bicycle to completely avoid the potential problems affecting users riding bicycles. This design recommendation was tested early on and incorporated into our mass manufacturing plan.

• Adding angled height adjustment mechanism: Recognizing that some varieties of helmets are too large to be placed parallel with the top tube of the bike frame, we would ideally want to add a mechanism to the base plate that allows it to hold the helmet at a steeper height and angle that would then increase the space bike riders have to move their legs without obstruction. This mechanism would allow the user to raise and lock the helmet in place at the hypotenuse formed by the top tube and the frame that connects to the handle bars. Our inspiration for adjustment comes from height based products such as leg crutches which have internal locking mechanisms that allow users to adapt the product to different height dimensions.

• Adding retraction as a feature: In order to lower issues of obstruction, especially if the user is wearing their helmet, we originally wanted to make the appendages of the base plate retractable, condensed in size. Due to time and material constraints we were not able to pursue developing a retractable version of our Beta prototype but foresee this being an important feature inspired by portable laptop stands that collapse to fit in standard bags.

• Rounding out edges: Lastly, to ensure that we limit the possibility of injury to the user, we plan on rounding out any pointed or sharp edges on our product and coating any particular edges that cannot be rounded in our initial cut of the material.

In the use case of our lock, we did not achieve the expected ease of use due to constraints on the size of our lock and its integration with the product as a whole. Specifically our Beta prototype has the locking mechanism as a separate component, and in our ideal design, the lock mechanism should not only be integrated as part of the base plate and straps, but also easy to use within 10 seconds attempting to lock or unlock their helmet. Beyond integration of the lock, obstructions to ease of use had to deal with the lock size. In cases where the helmet was of a larger variety, visibility and mobility of the lock itself was made more difficult to the user. To solve for these problems, we plan on modifying the lock mechanism in a number of ways:

• Increase the length of the lock shackle: Increasing the size of the lock shackle will allow the user to have more mobility moving the lock in place. In the context of this being integrated into the helmet security straps, this means ensuring that the component of the lock that is being inserted into the base is long enough to be maneuvered into its locking position despite the helmet size.

• Increasing the size of the combination reading: We want to improve legibility of the combination lock for bike riders to have an easier time entering in their combination with ease. Out of other analog lock types, we found that combinations locks were the most favored but realized through testing that ones of smaller size still slowed users down from locking and unlocking the lock. Having a larger reading of the characters used in the combination dials will help with legibility and consequently ease of use.

• Adding an alterative work around: In our testing we recognize that a potential failure mode could be the user forgetting their combination. In our final design, we would like to develop a work around mechanism, such as simply adding a basic key in lock to the bottom, in case the user needs to use a key instead when forgetting their combination.

Examining other details of our products, we recognize that there are opportunities to improve the security and attachability of our product by enhancing a few of the components used to secure our product together. These components include the screws, nuts, hinges, and pipe clamps that have been used to adhere the main components of our product together. The following lists several enhancements we have uncovered as ways to improve these additional security features:

• Adding protection for screws: Much of our peer feedback focused on making sure that the product itself did not appear easy to disassemble and consequently become susceptible to theft. Concern over the issue of folks unscrewing screws from the base plate raised the enhancement for further protecting these screws. Options for doing so include adding thread-locker coating solution to the screws during installation, welling of the screws, or more simply the addition of screw caps.

• Flexibility and protection of clamps: In our Beta prototype we were limited the use of standard pipe clamps, but recognize that these are non-adjustable for different bike frame shapes and sizes and determine that the material itself could erode or damage the paint off existing bikes. To improve adherence, protection of the bike frame, and also adjustable flexibility, we included O-clamps coated in rubber into our mass manufacturing plan once we tested that these were a better alternative during our validation testing.

• Increasing the strength of the hinge: One point of weakness in our product is potentially the hinge that attaches the helmet security straps to the base plate. Concerns around the hinge losing its strength of being tampered with raise a need for our next product iteration to have an improved strength hinge mechanism compared to the one that was used in the Beta prototype. A simple solution will to also add a cover to the hinge as well.