Project Aura
Co-Founder | 2012 – 2013
An early stage startup devoted to improving cycling safety in the chaotic urban environment.
Key Features
01
Wheel mounted lights increase side visibility and recognizability.
02
Color changing LED lights to allow a cyclists to not only be seen, but more importantly, be understood.
03
Our wheel lighting system received national recognition through multiple awards, grants, and a US Patent in 2018.
01
Solving side visibility
Many existing lights focus on illuminating the front and rear of a cyclist. My co-founder, Ethan Frier, and I mounted a set of lights on the wheels to both make the side of the cyclist visible and highlight the intrinsic motion and iconic form of a bicycle.
02
Creating a lighting language
Cars have an existing lighting language. Why not bikes? Wheel lights not only illuminated the bicycle’s form, but also conveyed intention: the LEDs would turn red when slowing down and white when at a constant velocity. This helped drivers and pedestrians better understand the cyclist’s actions, especially when approaching intersections.
Wheel lights dramatically improved side visibility, addressing one of the most common accidents
RGB LEDs were placed around the rim and integrated to be as visually unobtrusive as possible
Light pipes increased the surface area of the side illumination
03
Nationally recognized
Project Aura garnered national recognition for its innovative approach to cyclist safety, receiving a Behance award, Core77 Transportation Design Award, Pittsburgh $25,000 accelerator grant, and US Patent (US11531343B1).
Copyright 2025 • Jonathan Ota
Project Aura
Co-Founder | 2012 – 2013
An early stage startup devoted to improving cycling safety in the chaotic urban environment.
Key Features
01
Wheel mounted lights increase side visibility and recognizability.
02
Color changing LED lights to allow a cyclists to not only be seen, but more importantly, be understood.
03
Our wheel lighting system received national recognition through multiple awards, grants, and a US Patent in 2018.
01
Solving side visibility
Many existing lights focus on illuminating the front and rear of a cyclist. My co-founder, Ethan Frier, and I mounted a set of lights on the wheels to both make the side of the cyclist visible and highlight the intrinsic motion and iconic form of a bicycle.
02
Creating a lighting language
Cars have an existing lighting language. Why not bikes? Wheel lights not only illuminated the bicycle’s form, but also conveyed intention: the LEDs would turn red when slowing down and white when at a constant velocity. This helped drivers and pedestrians better understand the cyclist’s actions, especially when approaching intersections.
Wheel lights dramatically improved side visibility, addressing one of the most common accidents
RGB LEDs were placed around the rim and integrated to be as visually unobtrusive as possible
Light pipes increased the surface area of the side illumination
03
Nationally recognized
Project Aura garnered national recognition for its innovative approach to cyclist safety, receiving a Behance award, Core77 Transportation Design Award, Pittsburgh $25,000 accelerator grant, and US Patent (US11531343B1).
Copyright 2025 • Jonathan Ota
Project Aura
Co-Founder | 2012 – 2013
An early stage startup devoted to improving cycling safety in the chaotic urban environment.
Key Features
01
Wheel mounted lights increase side visibility and recognizability.
02
Color changing LED lights to allow a cyclists to not only be seen, but more importantly, be understood.
03
Our wheel lighting system received national recognition through multiple awards, grants, and a US Patent in 2018.
01
Solving side visibility
Many existing lights focus on illuminating the front and rear of a cyclist. My co-founder, Ethan Frier, and I mounted a set of lights on the wheels to both make the side of the cyclist visible and highlight the intrinsic motion and iconic form of a bicycle.
02
Creating a lighting language
Cars have an existing lighting language. Why not bikes? Wheel lights not only illuminated the bicycle’s form, but also conveyed intention: the LEDs would turn red when slowing down and white when at a constant velocity. This helped drivers and pedestrians better understand the cyclist’s actions, especially when approaching intersections.
Wheel lights dramatically improved side visibility, addressing one of the most common accidents
RGB LEDs were placed around the rim and integrated to be as visually unobtrusive as possible
Light pipes increased the surface area of the side illumination
03
Nationally recognized
Project Aura garnered national recognition for its innovative approach to cyclist safety, receiving a Behance award, Core77 Transportation Design Award, Pittsburgh $25,000 accelerator grant, and US Patent (US11531343B1).
Copyright 2025 • Jonathan Ota