Unconvincing Looking Airbag Helmet

humbert

From a Swedish company. The video shows a 20km/h crash from behind again and again for 2 minutes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2012/may/22/airbag-bicycle-helmet-video

Don't know how it would respond to a head-on collision and I wonder how sensitive is it. Would be a tad disorientating if it went off when you were hopping a kerb.

buffalo

How often are cyclists actually shunted from directly behind like that? Wouldn't mind seeing how it performs when going over someone's bonnet.

Or under the wheels of a left-turning car... can't imagine it's much use then.

awec

humbert wrote: »

From a Swedish company. The video shows a 20km/h crash from behind again and again for 2 minutes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2012/may/22/airbag-bicycle-helmet-video

Don't know how it would respond to a head-on collision and I wonder how sensitive is it. Would be a tad disorientating if it went off when you were hopping a kerb.

A tad?

seamus

It would appear to activate in any collision and they've tested it so that it only goes off in a crash (extreme acceleration) so I'm sure it works just fine in a head-on. Probably provides more protection in a rear shunt than a normal helmet.

However, since they've only been tested up to 20km/h and cost €400 a pop, I think I'll take the cuts and bruises and hold onto my €400 thanks.

Appears to be aimed squarely at the too-much-money fashion brigade.

droidus

Any data on the damage caused? Looks to me like it would be significantly more effective in preventing neck injury than a helmet.

humbert

seamus wrote: »

so that it only goes off in a crash (extreme acceleration) so I'm sure it works just fine in a head-on.

I was thinking about whether it would keep its position or move backward, leaving your face to take the impact.

I think it would also prove tricky to calibrate an accelerometer, either on the bike frame or in the helmet to go off when it's need and stay dormant when it's not but I wont dwell on that.

I'd also be a little uncomfortable knocking about with an explosive cannister around my neck.


*didn't read up on it, just saw it and thought it might be amusing to the folks here.

Lumen

Looking at the video, that use case seems to require a high COG in order to attain the requisite backflip.

I'd expect with a race bike that you'd get shunted forwards, resulting either in sitting on the bonnet or coasting forwards depending on whether you manage to hold on.

Anyone well-insured want to try and run me over?

Beasty

Been around for years (well one and a half anyway)

humbert

They're making stellar progress. (I think I saw that thread in the search results but dismissed it based on its age)

CramCycle

Lumen wrote: »

Anyone well-insured want to try and run me over?

Well I'm not insured but I could manage the rest of it :eek:

Red Neck Hughie

It's not actually for preventing injuries, if you look closely its a bag to hide your face/shame at getting rear ended by anything travelling at 20km/h.