Paper #33

Sustainable CIGS-Based Helmet-Mounted Photovoltaic System with GPS/IMU Sensor Fusion Using UKF: A Simulation-Based Case Study of Food Delivery Riders in Saudi Arabia

Noura Homedi, Lama Mujairdi and Asrar Makin

Presenting author: Lama Essa Mujairdi

Session: O12

Abstract

The rapid growth of food delivery services has increased safety concerns for delivery riders who frequently rely on smartphones for navigation while driving. This study proposes a smart helmet system designed to enhance rider safety and operational efficiency by providing hands-free navigation assistance. The helmet integrates GPS and IMU sensors whose measurements are fused using the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) to improve positioning accuracy and maintain short-term motion estimation during temporary GPS signal loss. Navigation instructions are delivered through a bone conduction audio system, allowing riders to receive guidance without blocking environmental sounds. To support system sustainability, a lightweight CIGS photovoltaic panel is integrated on the helmet to harvest solar energy and power the embedded electronics. Photovoltaic performance was evaluated using PVsyst based on solar irradiation data for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, considering three tilt angles (0°, 15°, and 30°). The results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating wearable photovoltaic systems with intelligent sensing technologies for safer urban food delivery operations.