On February 4th, 2025, SafeTouch received significant recognition by securing a €30,000 grant as part of the 16th edition of Switch2Product, the innovation program promoted by the Technology Transfer Office of Politecnico di Milano in collaboration with PoliHub and Deloitte’s Officine Innovazione. This achievement confirms the value of the project and its potential to enhance the safety of two-wheeled vehicles.
The SafeTouch project was born from the collaboration between alumnus Matteo Accurso and PhD student Ludovico Dassi, under the supervision of Professors Francesco Ferrise and Paolo Pennacchi from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. The idea of SafeTouch originates from Matteo’s master's thesis, which aimed to develop an innovative solution to reduce distractions while riding and increase the awareness of two-wheeled vehicle drivers.
In recent years, the adoption of micromobility and two-wheeled vehicles has grown significantly, offering sustainable and practical alternatives for urban mobility. However, these vehicles are less stable than cars and have less advanced safety systems. In this context, where rider attention is a key factor in accident prevention, SafeTouch introduces its hardware and software platform, enabling an intuitive interaction between the rider and the vehicle while minimizing distractions.
SafeTouch’s technology has been tested in an immersive virtual environment, specifically designed and populated with AI-controlled traffic. The simulator includes a real motorcycle that serves as a controller, allowing for the measurement of rider reactions through eye-tracking technology. Experimental results have shown that the proposed solution improves attention management and reduces reaction times, contributing to accident prevention.
Beyond funding, participation in Switch2Product will allow SafeTouch to access an incubation program at PoliHub, where the team is working to further refine the technology and prepare for commercialisation. With this recognition and the support of Politecnico di Milano, SafeTouch aims to transform two-wheeled mobility by making it safer and more aware, significantly contributing to accident reduction and enhancing the riding experience for millions of users.