First test of a unique motorcycle. Experts from BUT are collecting data to help prevent accidents

At first glance, it is an unassuming red motorcycle, one of thousands you might encounter on the road. In reality, however, this nearly new Ducati Multistrada V2 S is packed with a unique array of advanced measuring devices that provide valuable data on rider behaviour. Researchers from the Institute of Forensic Engineering at Brno University of Technology will use the findings to help investigate traffic accidents and support preventive campaigns focused on the safety of vulnerable road users.

Wheel speed sensors, brake pressure sensors, suspension position sensors, tyre temperature sensors, acceleration and rotation measurements in all axes, GPS, front and rear cameras, as well as throttle grip rotation and braking intensity sensors. The equipment will soon be complemented by eye-tracking glasses that record where riders focus their attention and for how long. With such an impressive collection of technologies custom-installed on the motorcycle, even a top-level racing machine would have little reason to be embarrassed.

“Our goal is not to set the fastest lap time. We will collect synchronised data during standardised measurements based on model situations derived from real traffic scenarios and involving test riders,” explains Marek Semela, Head of the Department of Expert Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, Traffic Accident Analysis and Motor Vehicle Valuation at the Institute of Forensic Engineering BUT. Such scenarios may include a pedestrian unexpectedly entering the roadway, braking before an intersection, or reacting to road signs and billboards along the route. “The primary objective is to study the human factor in these situations. When analysing accidents and preparing expert reports, we benefit from having the broadest possible knowledge base on rider behaviour so that our conclusions remain grounded in reality and context,” says Semela.

As a result, experts will be able to rely on data from simulated scenarios when preparing accident assessments. The motorcycle will also serve as a demonstration tool at road safety events and may potentially be used for training riders from police and military units, thanks to its ability to document their gradual improvement. Using insights gained from the collected data, researchers will help the public better understand critical situations that can arise while riding a motorcycle.

While eye-tracking studies of car drivers have been conducted for many years, motorcyclists have largely remained outside the scope of such detailed research, resulting in a significant lack of data. “We identified a less explored area that virtually nobody has studied through the combination of sensors and eye-tracking glasses. At the same time, the Czech Republic is one of the leading countries in terms of the number of registered motorcycles, and unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are also relatively common here,” adds Marek Semela.

The first full-scale test of the technology took place a few days ago at the Brno racing circuit during training sessions involving South Moravian police riders, their Austrian colleagues, members of the Castle Guard, and the Military Police. The programme focused primarily on riding skills exercises – figure eights, circular manoeuvres, slaloms, and a ride along the main circuit. “The initial data collection at the Masaryk Circuit, after 25 laps of riding, demonstrated the interesting potential of both the Ducati motorcycle and the project as a whole. We were already able to evaluate riding lines, lean angles, combinations of braking and acceleration, motorcycle responses, and other variables describing a rider’s driving style,” Semela adds.

To make meaningful use of the data, however, an enormous amount of information will need to be collected from a large number of riders. The Institute of Forensic Engineering at BUT is therefore currently looking for volunteer test riders of all experience levels – from complete beginners to professionals – who would be willing to ride the motorcycle, valued at more than half a million Czech crowns, during regularly organised testing events.

Source: Institute of Forensic Engineering

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Published	2026-06-11 08:19
Link	https://www.vut.cz/en/but/f19528/d337433