SOS
Crash Detection & Anti-Theft Alarm for DMD Devices
The SOS app provides automatic crash detection and anti-theft alarm protection for your DMD Navigation device. It uses the built-in accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS to detect crashes and unauthorized movement, sending emergency SMS alerts with your GPS location to your emergency contacts.
Quick Info
- Access
- Via Manage App
- Requires
- Android 12+ (API 31)
- Type
- System App (pre-installed)
- Compatible Devices
- DMD T665, T865X, T880X, Norte
Overview
The SOS app runs as a background service that monitors your device's sensors while you ride. It has two independent protection features:
Crash Detection (SOS)
Detects crashes using the accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS. When a crash is detected, a 60-second countdown starts. If not cancelled, emergency SMS messages with your GPS location are automatically sent to your emergency contacts.
Anti-Theft Alarm
Monitors the device for unauthorized movement when the screen is off and the device is docked. If movement is detected, a loud alarm sounds and SMS alerts are sent to your designated contact.
Crash Detection (SOS)
The crash detection system uses multiple sensors to reliably detect when you've had an accident while minimizing false alarms.
Enable SOS
The master toggle that activates the crash detection system. When enabled, a background service starts monitoring your device's sensors whenever the device is docked and the screen is on.
Crash Detection Conditions
For crash detection to be active, all of the following conditions must be met:
- SOS is enabled in settings
- The device is docked in its holder or connected via M9 cable
- The screen is on
- The sensor has been calibrated
- Motion has been detected (you are moving)
- You have traveled at least 15 meters (motorcycle) or 50 meters (car) from the starting point
When all these conditions are met, the status shows as ENGAGED.
Anti-Theft Alarm
The alarm feature monitors for unauthorized movement when the device is parked. It works independently from the crash detection system.
Enable Alarm
When enabled, the device monitors for movement while:
- The device is docked in the holder or connected via M9 cable
- The screen is off
If movement is detected (someone picks up or moves your motorcycle), the alarm triggers immediately with a loud sound and sends SMS alerts to your alarm contact.
Alarm Sound
When triggered, a loud continuous alarm plays on the device speakers. This can be toggled on or off in settings via the "Play Alarm Sound" option.
Alarm SMS
An SMS is sent to your alarm contact with the last known GPS location. Repeated messages are sent every 60 seconds while the alarm remains active.
Detection Modes
The app supports two detection modes, each tuned for different vehicle types. Select the correct mode for your vehicle in the settings.
Motorcycle Mode
Optimized for motorcycles, scooters, and similar two-wheeled vehicles.
- Tilt detection: Detects when the bike falls to its side
- Slow tip-over: Detects gradual falls (mud, sand, gravel)
- Distance threshold: 15 meters
- Confirmation time: 5 seconds
Car Mode
Tuned for cars and four-wheeled vehicles. More conservative to reduce false alarms from rough roads.
- No tilt detection: Cars stay upright in most crashes
- Post-impact calm check: Sensors must stabilize for 3 seconds
- Distance threshold: 50 meters
- Confirmation time: 8 seconds (longer cancel window)
Calibration
Before the SOS system can detect crashes, you must calibrate the sensor. Calibration tells the app what "normal" looks like for your specific mounting position.
How to Calibrate
- Mount the device in the exact position you will use while riding — in its holder or dock, on the vehicle
- Park the vehicle on a flat, level surface — avoid slopes, kickstands that tilt the bike, or uneven ground
- Make sure the vehicle and device are completely stationary
- Open the SOS app and expand the Status section
- Tap the CALIBRATE button
- The "Calibrated" indicator should change to a green checkmark
Emergency Contacts & Messages
Configure the phone numbers and messages that will be sent when an emergency is detected.
Crash Detection (SOS) Contacts
- Fall Phone Number 1
- Primary emergency contact. Receives SMS when a crash is detected.
- Fall Phone Number 2
- Secondary emergency contact (optional). Also receives SMS.
- Fall Message
- The message sent with the SMS. Default: "Help! I had a crash at the following location:"
Your GPS location is automatically appended as a Google Maps link. - Send Fall Detection SMS
- Toggle to enable/disable SMS sending. When disabled, the alarm sound still plays but no SMS is sent.
Anti-Theft Alarm Contact
- Alarm Phone Number
- Contact that receives SMS when movement is detected while parked.
- Alarm Message
- Default: "Alarm! Motorcycle Moved! Last Location:"
GPS location appended automatically. - Send Alarm SMS
- Toggle to enable/disable alarm SMS.
- Play Alarm Sound
- Toggle the loud alarm sound on/off. Default: On.
How It Works
Here's what happens when a crash is detected:
The sensors detect a significant impact, combined with tilt, rotation, and/or sudden speed drop. The system waits 5-8 seconds to confirm.
A full-screen overlay shows "Fall Detected!" with a 60-second countdown. A loud alarm starts playing.
If you're OK, press "Cancel" to stop the countdown and dismiss the alert. No SMS is sent.
If you press "Send Now" or the countdown reaches zero, emergency SMS messages are sent to your contacts with your GPS location as a Google Maps link. Additionally, if you are using DMD2 with an active Riding Group and sharing your location, your status will automatically be set to "Help Me" — alerting all group members of the emergency on their map.
After the SOS is sent, an "I'm OK" button appears. Press it to stop the alarm sound. A 2-minute cooldown prevents duplicate alerts from the same event.
Status Indicators
The Status section in the app shows real-time information about the system state. Expand the Status accordion to view it.
| Indicator | Description |
|---|---|
| Connected | Device is docked in the holder. ✓ = docked, ✗ = not docked |
| Calibrated | Sensor baseline has been set. ✓ = calibrated, ✗ = needs calibration |
| Motion Detected | The device detects acceleration variance (you are moving). ✓ = moving |
| Moved 15m / 50m | You have traveled the minimum distance threshold (15m for motorcycle, 50m for car) |
| Overall | ENGAGED = all conditions met, crash detection is active NOT ENGAGED = one or more conditions not met |
Manual SOS & Manual Alarm
The app provides manual trigger buttons for testing or emergency use:
Manual SOS Send
Found in the Settings accordion. Immediately triggers the crash detection flow with the 60-second countdown dialog. The system must be engaged for this to work.
Manual Alarm Send
Triggers the alarm immediately, playing the alarm sound and sending the alarm SMS to your designated contact. Useful for testing your alarm setup.
Background Service
While SOS or Alarm is enabled, you'll see a persistent notification:
Monitoring sensors
This notification is required by Android for background services. It has minimal visual priority and no sound. The service also starts automatically at device boot if SOS or Alarm was previously enabled.
Troubleshooting
Check each status indicator:
- Connected: Make sure the device is properly docked in the holder or connected via M9 cable.
- Calibrated: Press the CALIBRATE button while the device is stationary and docked.
- Motion Detected: You need to actually be moving — the app detects acceleration changes.
- Moved 15m/50m: You need to travel at least 15m (motorcycle) or 50m (car) from where you started.
- Screen: The screen must be ON for crash detection. Screen off disables fall detection.
- Press "Cancel" on the alert dialog to stop the SMS from being sent.
- If you ride on very rough terrain, consider switching to Car mode which has higher thresholds and a longer confirmation time.
- Make sure you have calibrated the sensor correctly with the device stationary on level ground.
- The system has a 2-minute cooldown after each event to prevent duplicate alerts.
- Make sure "Send Fall Detection SMS" (or "Send Alarm SMS") is toggled on.
- Verify that valid phone numbers are entered (including country code).
- Check that the device has an active SIM card with SMS capability.
- Ensure the SMS permission has been granted to the app.
The SMS includes your custom message followed by a Google Maps link to your GPS location. For example:
https://maps.google.com/?q=41.1933,-8.2999
Your emergency contact can tap the link to see your exact location on Google Maps.