A thoughtful analysis of traffic accident statistics was one of the key aspects of research dealing with motorcycle road safety. Data gathered from the USA, Japan and Europe points to a very significant number of incidents of frontal collisions. Furthermore, many injuries to motorcycle riders are caused by direct impact with automobiles and contact with road surfaces. For these reasons designers have paid special attention to the absorption of the rider’s kinetic energy and forward momentum.
The first "airbag" for motorcyclists was introduced to the public more than 10 years ago. It was very different from the airbag we had become accustomed to seeing in automobiles. In fact, it was an inflatable vest designed to protect rider’s body from contact with various objects. The gas charge was initiated with the pull of a safety wire fitted to the frame of the motorcycle. However, this system proved not to be viable.
Taking into consideration the complexity and dynamics of the processes affecting rider’s body in an accident (movements including twisting, rocking, rolling and even the interaction between the rider and the airbag), the whole methodology used to conduct crash tests had to be modified. Many tests were carried out as part of a long-term effort before the new motorcycle airbag, which is similar to the car airbag, was introduced.
The motorcycle airbag consists of an airbag unit with a gas generator – an ISS product - installed in a box in front of the rider, crash sensors placed on the front forks to monitor changes in speed and an engine control unit that evaluates the potential accident according to its calculations. The airbag itself is made from the same material as an automobile airbag.
Due to the close proximity of the airbag to the head, neck and body in general, a “cold inflator” that does not generate hot gas, in contrast to an automobile airbag, had to be used. The gas generator consists of a small pressurized canister containing compressed helium and a pyrotechnic squib (an ISS product) to puncture the membrane. Our product is incorporated into a more complex consumer product at our Austrian plant, iSi, and then it is delivered to Dainese S.p.A., who market the product as the D-Air Jacket. There are two versions of the product: a compact version for racers and a version for street use with a 12-litre airbag.
During the D-Air system homologation tests, the safety level was found to be 85% higher in comparison with conventional safety gear (spine protection, padded linings, etc.). Dainese plans to use more ISS products in other types of protective apparel, e.g. for ski racing, equestrian activities, cycling, extreme water sports, etc.
http://www.autorevue.cz/doporuceni-pro-motorkare-noste-vesty-s-airbagem
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