Unlock this high-tech bike lock with your smartphone

Good news for bikers: Soon, you may be able to secure your bike with a solar-powered bicycle lock that uses your smartphone as a key.

 

Dubbed "Skylock," the upcoming lock uses low-powered Bluetooth to pair with a smartphone and also has a built-in solar panel to recharge its internal electronics.

 

"In addition to robust mechanics, a theft alert system sends a message to your phone when someone touches your lock for an extended period. Alerts are sent via Bluetooth or via Wi-Fi, the first time either communication methods are available in one device," Velo Labs, the company behind Skylock, said in a YouTube video:

 

 

The lock also uses a proprietary dual locking design that makes it "twice as safe as a traditional u-lock."

 

Its solar battery lets an hour of sunlight provide enough power for a week.

 

A fully charged battery can last up to a month for average users, Velo Labs said.

 

Rider injury

 

On the other hand, Skylock can compare accelerometer data from a smartphone to its own and determine if a rider was injured in an accident.

 

"In the event of a severe impact Skylock will send a push notification to see if the rider is ok. If they fail to acknowledge the notification within a set number of seconds, Skylock will automatically determine that the rider is seriously hurt and alert emergency responders so they can come to the rider's aid as quickly as possible," Velo Labs said.

 

Biking community

 

A Skylock app allows users to lend their bikes to anyone in their trusted network or the Skylock community, and keep track of the loaned bike.

 

However, the device is not quite available yet, tech site T3.com said.

 

T3.com said Velo Labs launched a crowdfunding campaign for Skylock on May 15, and may start shipping by Spring 2015.

 

It said the campaign seeks to raise $50,000 to make the first batch of devices, adding Skylock may retail for $249. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News