The author proposes a DIY navigation system for bicycles and motorcycles to replace mounting a smartphone directly on the handlebars. The primary motivation is to protect expensive devices from vibrations that damage optical image stabilization (OIS) modules, as well as to prevent screen burn-in and battery degradation caused by exposure to road conditions.
The project utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller to create a bridge between a smartphone and a small HUD display. The system is designed to display essential navigation prompts, such as turn-by-turn directions and distances, while the phone remains safely stored in a pocket or bag. This approach avoids the need for specialized navigation apps.
The solution integrates with existing navigation software like 2GIS and Yandex Maps. By offloading the visual guidance to a secondary, low-cost display, the user maintains access to familiar features like traffic data, saved locations, and search history without risking hardware damage to their primary mobile device.
