The incredible motorbike airbag
With motorcycle accidents being commonplace all over Bangladesh, it seems that safety for the two-wheeler drivers have become critical to say the least. It is widely accepted that a mistake whilst riding can lead to serious injury and even mortality in many cases. Although the motorcycles are immensely popular amongst road users in the country, mainly due to its economical nature and carefree movement through congested roadways, safety has become a paramount issue not just in Bangladesh but all over the world.
The system is designed to improve a rider’s torso protection in a crash. (Alpinestars)
This subject leads to new research and development into motorcycle safety carried out by boffins all over the world. Alpinestars, a leading cycle-sports outerwear company, seems to have crafted one for the safety-minded. The company, with offices in northern Italy, Los Angeles and Tokyo, has developed an airbag system that cushions riders’ torsos and neck in case of a crash.
Although it can be said that the users of two wheelers in Bangladesh wear little safety gear in the roads and highways, with some even hanging their helmets on the side mirror whilst riding, it has to be said that this product shall not create a great sales buzz in the country. However, the technology behind this system, the Tech-Air Street, seems of be of particular interest even to the least safety minded person.
The Alpinestars vest houses the inflatable body armour into some jackets from the brand, maximizing a rider’s defense mechanisms whilst also adding minimal bulk. A rigid polymer plate protects the rider’s spine and houses the system’s control unit. There are no requirements of any adjustment in the rider’s position and noticeably frees up the rider, whilst wearing the Tech-Air Street.
The system sensors determine a crash is underway with incredible accuracy and follows this by the release of compressed air from a pair of cylinders, instantaneously inflating strategically positioned air bladders. All this happens within 30 and 60 milliseconds, an outstandingly quick effect. The whole system is stitched inside a vest, whilst the Airbag Control Unit and air canisters fit into a rigid section along the rider’s spine, which looks very similar to the spine protectors at the back of MotoGP racing jackets. The entire device is activated when the wearer zips the Tech-Air-equipped jacket closed. The Tech-Air street airbag system uses a sophisticated algorithm specifically developed for street riding to detect imminent danger with the greatest precision. Using Alpinestars’ custom analysis software the algorithm of the vest has been optimized to detect crash impacts not only while riding but also in situations of loss of control, including when riding off road.
In one of the model of vests called the Valparaiso, airbags are positioned both in the front and rear, providing coverage of the back, shoulders, kidney area and chest in the event of a crash. Any curious onlooker would be hard pressed to detect a vest under a wearer’s jacket, though when the airbags inflate, a rider so-dressed appears to be wearing three sweaters.
A rigid polymer plate protects the rider’s spine and houses the system’s control unit. (Alpinestars)
Tech-Air systems require no connection to the motorcycle, so wearers can hop from one bike to the next without compromising operation. Users must, however, remember to charge the vest’s battery pack, which is good for about 25 hours of riding when fully topped up. A strip of LEDs runs along the rider’s forearm, like a meter indicating level of battery charge.
The Tech-Air Street system is the result of a decade of research on the road, at temperatures between -10C (14F) and 50C (122F), Alpinestars says. The technology has already been used in racing versions where MotoGP aces Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa were saved from crash injuries.
In testing, the company ensured that a rider and passenger would retain control of the bike were accidental inflations to occur (Alpinestars). The system even is intended to protect stationary riders in the event of a rear-end collision when waiting at a traffic light, for example. The Tech-Air will be available in select European markets in spring 2015, with US sales to come later in the year whilst Asian sales are thought to be around late 2015 or early 2016. Initial pricing for the vest is at 1,200 euros (Approximately BDT. 104,000), which has to be added to either the Valparaiso (650 euros or BDT. 56,000) or Viper (350 euros or BDT. 30,000) jackets. The prices for the gear seem to be that of a price of a decent two- wheeler in the local market!
For more information please visit: http://www.alpinestars.com/tech-air
-Reportsbd Desk-
Short URL: https://reportsbd.com/?p=265
Posted by Reportsbd
on Mar 4 2015. Filed under Technology.
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