I’m no rider but I’ve witnessed two motorcycle crashes in person and it’s not a pretty scene. The human body is weak, especially when you throw in high speeds and pavement into the equation. Despite the dangers of riding on a motorcycle, the thrill of the ride is well worth the risks involved. In many cases, it’s the car drivers who are unaware of their surroundings which lead to motorcycle accidents. There are several “air bag” ideas around for motorcycle riders but I have no idea how effective they really are. The latest technology comes from Alpinestars Tech-Air street airbag system for motorcycle riders.
The Tech-Air street airbag system offers comprehensive upper body protection with unmatched freedom for motorcycle riders whether off road or on the pavement. The system helps protect areas such as the back, shoulders, chest, kidney areas, and all of the most exposed areas during an unfortunate street crash.
Looks Good Minus The Broken Neck!
Rather than installing an airbag system to motorcycles, Alpinestars Tech-Air street airbag is integrated into the rider’s motorcycle jacket making it more convenient. The system will be available in Europe in the Spring of 2015.
During their extensive research, it was found that a rider’s body remains “relatively” stable in all types of terrain including off-road and things only get chaotic once a crash or a fall occurs. As a result of this and a decade of research and development, the company created a vest that can be worn inside two of Alpinestars jackets (Valparaiso jacket and Viper jacket).
The Tech-Air street airbag system features the airbag of course but it also has a main control unit which is also integrated into the vest. While the airbag offers the protection, the control unit uses a specifically developed software algorithm which is able to detect an impact in 30-60 milliseconds and the airbag can be deployed in just 25 milliseconds ensuring the airbag is deployed before the rider hits an obstacle. This quick reaction time by the system can mean the difference between life and death or serious injury.
The battery pack which powers the ECU will provide over 25 hours of continuous use on a full charge while a one-hour charge will get you four hours of use. The Tech-Air vest is waterproof and is activated once the jacket is zipped up. You won’t find any buttons/switches or complicated procedures to activate the airbag system.
As you can see in the video, the crash still looks pretty bad and that test dummy may have a snapped neck. At the end of the day, every bit of protection helps. What I like about this system is that it’s implemented into a jacket while still offering the rider full freedom of motion.
[Via: Alpinestars]