Sonqro – Smart Riding System for Hearing-Impaired Couriers

Sonqro is designed to assist hearing-impaired food-delivery couriers in China, where over 100,000 riders with partial or complete hearing loss face challenges in receiving orders, navigating routes, and communicating with customers. In fast-paced environments, missed audio cues or unclear interactions can cause delays, safety risks, and stress. Sonqro redefines accessibility through a multisensory communication system that transforms sound into visual and tactile feedback, enabling riders to stay aware and connected on the road.

The system integrates three core components: AR glasses, a safety helmet, and a handheld controller, forming a seamless wearable ecosystem. The AR glasses convert sound signals into real-time visual alerts using bone-conduction technology, ensuring riders remain aware of surrounding vehicles and notifications. The helmet features a streamlined aerodynamic form with ventilated mesh channels to balance protection and airflow, while adjustable ear rails and rear straps ensure ergonomic comfort. The glasses and helmet magnetically dock to create a stable, unified interface that also extends the glasses’ battery life through shared power management.

Material innovation enhances both performance and sustainability. The helmet’s natural fiber–thermoplastic composite shell is lightweight, recyclable, and reduces resin waste. A 3D-printed TPU lattice liner provides adaptive cushioning and breathability, while Koroyd thermowelded tubes reinforce impact zones with efficient shock absorption. The modular power system employs a cobalt-free solid-state battery for the glasses and an LFP module for the helmet—both detachable, rechargeable via USB-C, and tracked through a digital battery passport.

Aesthetically, Sonqro’s unified design language emphasizes inclusivity through clarity and simplicity. Smooth contours and soft transitions express approachability while maintaining aerodynamic precision. By bridging sensory gaps through intelligent design, Sonqro empowers hearing-impaired couriers to work safely and confidently—transforming accessibility into dignity and independence.