Motorcyclists To Get Wearable Airbags 515
jonerik writes "For the past hundred years or so motorcycle accidents have had an unfortunate potential for particularly horrific injuries, or worse. Improvements in safety gear have certainly been made in the past few decades, but in some ways those improvements have been balanced out by the tremendous speeds that modern bikes are capable of. According to this article from ABC News, though, Dainese, a protective sports clothing maker in Vicenza, Italy has developed a wearable airbag vest - called the D-Air - designed to cushion riders in the event of an accident. The D-Air vest features a tiny electronic computer referred to as the STM (which stands for Sensing, Triggering, and Memory), which was developed by an Israeli company called Merhav APP. According to the article, the STM contains sensors that monitor the bike's physical motion. 'The sensors onboard the STM will watch for telltale signs -- such as a sudden deceleration force of about ten times that of gravity -- that precede a collision. Once the computer determines an impending accident, the STM blasts the data to receiver in the vest to start the inflation process.'
This site also features some pictures of the D-Air vest in action. Dainese plans to begin selling the D-Air vest in Europe in the spring, though American sales will have to wait since the U.S. Department of Transportation has yet to set standards for such a device."
Ouch! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Ouch! (Score:5, Insightful)
An airbag inflator has the power of a hand granade. I would not like to carry such as device too close to the body. Also, what happens if I would wear a packpack, or have someone on join me on the bike (sitting behind me).
This device may look right, but how many lives will it save compared to those it take. Also, how do you dispose an explosive jacket, or take it with out on an aircraft. I'd say that this is probably a publicity stunt, and not really a life saver as airbags in cars are, but thats just MHO.
Re:Ouch! (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Ouch! (Score:4, Interesting)
I suspect that these bags are not as powerful as you might think. Having said that I wouldn't want to wear one.
Re:Ouch! (Score:3, Informative)
I live in Sweden where seat belts are compulsory too, just as in the UK. This rule is the biggest life saver of them all, no airbag in the world saves you in a roll-over situation (which is quite common).
As for the force, I work at a company producing the inflators used in passenger side airbags and they are really powerful (the company name is Autoflator, a part of the Autoliv group). I have also smashed a car (aquaplaning... scary stuff) and I got hit pretty good by the airbag.
At least we agree on not wearing them!
Re:Ouch! (Score:3, Informative)
I'm always a little curious about broad statements, especially when comparing the habits of different societies.
I live in California, which is the most populous state, and has by far the most cars of any state, as well as the most stringent emissions laws. It turns out that, at least as of 1999, it also had the highest rate of seat belt use, nearly 90%. (Buckle up America Report, 2001) [dot.gov]
At a national level, that 90% is considered a target number for 2005. As of 2002, national usage is at 75% [buckleupamerica.org], which was a sad surprise to me. Of course, each state has its own laws.
It isn't surprising to me that less than half of North Dakotans wear a seat belt, considering the rural environment and culture, but I would have thought the national average would be higher by now.
Interestingly, all the states that border California are also very high.
Re:Ouch! (Score:4, Informative)
On a related point, my wife was talking to the head of the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) just yesterday about airbags. US airbags are a big pet peeve of his, because if you're a passenger using a seatbelt in a US airbag-equipped car, you're *MORE LIKELY* to be injured than your European seatbelted compatriot, because of the more powerful airbag. Congress deliberately set them more powerful to give (statistically-unproven) better protection to folks not wearing belts. While it *has* been statistically proven that belts plus low-velocity airbags reduces injury. I'm not making this up : this is what Dr. Runge said, and I assume he knows what he's talking about.
In fact, I know a doc in one of our local hospitals who is pissed because his wife is permanently disabled, directly because of the US high-powered airbags.
So, to conclude : US airbags are more powerful to provide an *unproven* amount of protection to non-seatbelted occupants, at the *direct* expense of seatbelted occupants. Gah.
Re:Ouch! (Score:5, Insightful)
Think about the classic car/bike accident where the imbecile car driver turns in front of the bike, which then hits the side of the car at full speed. I know of several people who would be walking today if they'd been wearing an airbag like this that fixates the head and neck upon impact. I'm a physiotherapist, I meet a lot of the ones who don't die on impact.
I'm walking today becase I was 17 when some prick did it to me, and I had reflexes like a cat. And I was LUCKY. He drove into me, and I managed to clear the hood of the car before impact.
One millisecond too slow and my left leg would have been a bag of smashed bone chips, an infinitely preferable arrangement to the head and spinal cord injuries I've seen, belive me. Even if they have to cut off your whole fucking leg, you can still wipe your own ass.
So don't be too quick to dismiss the good old airbag. Anything that adds armor to the neck and head is good. I'd wear it.
This is just the begining too. Once they get this perfected they can start on the lower trunk and limbs. Progress!
Re:Ouch! (Score:4, Interesting)
As for the women who put the shoulder belt behind them -- well, I hope they never wind up in an accident. Three point harnasses (shoulder and waist belts) are not made to be worn without the shoulder strap. They will probably wind up being seriously injured in the groin area, along with upper chest injuries from slamming into the steering wheel (with or without airbag -- my sister has been spending the last 4 months recovering from a 90 mph head on collision because some ditz crossed into her lane of traffic; if it hadn't been for her wearing a selt belt properly and airbags she would be dead).
Re:Ouch! (Score:2)
Its definitely not a publicity stunt though. Dainese have been working on this jacket for quite a long while (many years). They're also one of the biggest names in protective motorcycle apparel.
Re:Ouch! (Score:5, Insightful)
Airbags, much like ABS brakes and anything else used in cars are only partially effective, and only when used right. In many circumstances people have walked away from rather non-fatal collisions with broken jaws, ribs, and being partially or completely blinded.
Having spoken with a biker (sitting in the next room from me. ;) ) he agrees that this vest is highly impractical. When you're launched from your bike, you keep your appendages close to your body and roll, similar to how paratroopers roll on landing to reduce the stress on your body. Also, they have to be able (barring physical injury) to get up and walk away, so as to prevent them from being flattened by passing cars (who tend to pay so much attention to the wreck they'd hit the broad side of a barn if it were planted in front of them). This vest looks like it has serious potential to create a situation faced by Ralphie's brother in "A Christmas Story". (Think 'big snow suit', and 'can't move')
Much as I hate to abuse a cliche; the best life saver in all these cases is education. Motorcyclists have to observe proper safety precautions, and cars have to be told that no, you can NOT share a lane space with a motorcycle, and that while they're not as big, they're considered the same as a car when it comes to road usage. There are many statistics about how motorcyclists have been faulted as the cause of collisions, but I'd be willilng to bet that most of those have been indirectly (or directly) caused by the car, or other surrounding motorists (I'm not including those plastic, 20lb "sport" bikes, because the guys who drive those seem to have a death wish).
If people don't use safety devices properly, they have this habit of backfiring and causing death or injury, rather than the desired prevention. Take my above example of ABS brakes; people have started to become complacent, believing that ABS will reduce their stopping distance, so they drive faster towards intersections and brake later. What they don't realize is that ABS actually increases your stopping distance. I can only imagine how the bikers have felt watching a car speed towards them at 80KM/h while they sat stopped at a light, often behind another car.
Chevrolet (and perhaps all of General Motors, I'm not sure) has apparently decided to make ABS once again an optional, rather than standard feature in their new product lines. I only wish I'd had that option for my '95 Cavalier.
Unfortunately, my usual opinion of 'Remove the safety labels/devices and let the stupid take care of themselves' doesn't apply here. The drivers of cars would cream motorcycles, and innocent (and perhaps highly intelligent) bikers would be dead, while drivers of cars would walk away.
How about this - retroactive corporal punishment for any driver who causes an accident due to stupidity (which includes not paying attention, driving while tired, intoxicated, being distracted by cell phones, kids, oral sex from the passenger seat, etc.)? What we do is break their ankles on a cinder block, much like in Misery, and then revoke their drivers license for five years with mandatory driver training in order to get it back. That is, of course, if their ankles are fit to operate the pedals. ;)
Re:Ouch! (Score:3, Informative)
This is obviously written by someone who has never ridden a motorcycle for any length of time and who's getting advice from someone who thinks he's a better rider than he is (which is scary). As a former editor at Motorcycle Online (http://www.motorcycle.com [motorcycle.com]),
I can tell you that when you're tossed off a bike at 70 miles per hour, the first thing that goes through your mind isn't, "Ah, now I'll tuck my legs and roll!" That's just ridiculous. You hit the ground so quickly (if you're lucky and don't highside which involves you being tossed through the air and is definitely the most dangerous way to wad) that about all you have time for is "OHSHIT!!", which is, interestingly, what anyone who claims otherwise is full of.
As far as the vest is concerned, well, if it works, great. Many would refuse to wear it just like many refuse to wear helmets, citing rights and freedoms and fashion and whatever. But research into this kind of technology is nice to see because, at the very least, it keeps a dialog open and fresh about motorcycle safety.
Re:Ouch! (Score:3, Informative)
OMG, what an arrogant comment. Do you work for the IIHS, NHTSA, or a major insurance carrier?
In this case, I picked the first reference from your google search and read the second paragraph that contained this line:
A skilled driver can stop better without ABS brakes (particularly on dry pavement) using a technique called threshold braking. Essentially, threshold braking is when a driver applies the maximum amount force on the brakes to slow the car without locking the wheels. If executed properly, the wheels will not lock, but actually move slower than the rotational speed required to maintain speed on the pavement. It tends to work best in an open-wheeled race car, but the technique also applies to roadgoing cars. Anti-lock brakes will hinder this technique. Check racing literature -- using this technique yields shorter stopping distances then punching the brake on an ABS-equiped vehicle.
ABS brakes also tend to limit the ability of a driver to use another technique called trail-braking (and left-foot braking). These are braking techniques used to offset the balance of the vehicle in a corner and tighten up the line through a corner. This is used in both racing situations and emergency avoidance manuvers.
Additionally, having ABS tends to make drivers over-confident -- many tend to steer during heavy braking, which unloads the rear tires of a car and can easily cause a vehicle to spin out of control...or cause a sport-ute to roll.
Many drivers prefer ABS brakes -- which is fine. Its their choice. In fact, for most drivers, ABS is better...but the absolute mentality you have is just wrong.
Re:Ouch! (Score:3, Informative)
Do you understand how ABS works? It alternatively locks and unlocks the wheel, which gives a pulse pattern, which means you stop for a second, roll for a second, etc. (Not actually 'a second', but short, pre-determined time intervals)
What, like;
I think you get the point. The comonality between all of thesee pages looks like this;
The problem with light cars (a very large number of consumer purchased vehicles lately) is that they don't have the weight to keep the skipping wheels on the ground, thus dramatically reducing the efectiveness in both stopping distance and steering control, hence the reason for removing them from the likes of the Cavalier and Sunfire.
Especially in snow, gravel, and sand (loose pack) ABS will drastically increase your stopping distance (by about 200% in some cases, depending on speed and density of the material you're driving in). The plow effect by your car's tires slows the trajectory of your vehicle.
ABS isn't designed to reduce stopping distance, it is designed to give steering control. These are two VERY different things. Incidentally, locking your tires and knowing how to change directions can/will significantly reduce your stopping distance with the same amount of control, as anyone who's ever taken or instructed a crash course will tell you.
I've conducted 80KM/h tests myself, in snow (loose and hard packed), gravel, sand, and wet and dry asphalt and under many of the conditions, especially the non-ideal driving conditions, my stopping distance was increased. I will grant you that my tires did suffer more on the locking tests, but if I'm making an emergency stop, I'd much sooner replace some tires than find myself face-first in the side of an SUV/Minivan/truck/etc.
BTW, speaking of ideal conditions; This study [dot.gov] hilights another problem with ABS - Driver reaction time and leg strength. Many (most?) women and smaller men have great difficulty in putting 100lbs pressure on their brake pedals in a real hurry, which the NHTSA has discovered increases stopping distance (150-200lbs is the desired pressure, which was difficult to attain, except by the TRC (professional) test driver).
rebound effect? (Score:4, Funny)
That already happens (Score:3, Informative)
Re:That already happens (Score:3, Informative)
Get away from the bike.
And DO NOT try to stand up until you KNOW you're done sliding.
New Movie? (Score:2, Funny)
Will they use these in the new Mad Max movie? [slashdot.org]
Go go... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Go go... (Score:2)
Hilarious!
I pictured this somewhat differently though... like the Michelin Man [worldcycling.com]
High side v. low side (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:High side v. low side - Safety is additive (Score:5, Insightful)
Probably not at all. This might be of use to specific types of accidents, including collisions (thrown over the handlebars) and high-sides (bike falls toward the outside of a turn, throwing the rider clear). Low-sides, where the bike falls toward the inside of a turn, generally leaves the rider on the bike or perhaps following behind the bike. Good riding gear such as leather or ballistic nylon with closed-cell foam armor cushioning hips, elbows, etc. do a very good job of protecting riders from this type of accident already.
All that aside, as the AMA rep points out in the article, collision avoidance needs to be the focus. No matter what happens, motorcycle accidents are going to involve a high risk of injury. I'd bet that you can put an 8-year-old child in the driver's seat of a Ford Excursion, buckle their seatbelt, and tell them to push down on the pedal on the right... and they'd have even-money odds of coming out uninjured. Skills don't enter as much into the picture in a "cage" (motorcyclist-speak for a 4-wheel vehicle).
Rider education, and technology that enhances control (ABS, better suspension like the BMW Telelever/Paralever), and rider education are the types of things that will reduce rider injuries. Yes, I put rider education in there twice on purpose, it's the most important.
Better idea: inflatable wings (Score:4, Funny)
A guy I went to cycle class with actually go hit by a sport bike while he was driving a pickup, and came out of it worse than the guy on the bike. He came around a corner too quickly on a wet road, the back of the truck swung out into the oncoming traffic, and the bike *PRANG!* went right into the driver side door. The biker went flying, landed on the grass, and my buddy was lucky he WASN'T wearing his seat belt, since he ended up sharing the cab with the bike.
On second thought, how about a jacket that turns inflates with helium and floats you to safety?...
Re:High side v. low side (Score:2)
Its high-impact events where the vest would come into its own.
Re:High side v. low side (Score:3, Insightful)
The air-bag type vest that more than a few different companies are working on is for accidents usually involving bike hitting car/truck or other immovable object.
10g decceleration does not happen when rider low-sides, and rarely when you high-side (until body hits ground).
The battle bikers face is visibility and respect from car/truck drivers. This device will help, in some circumstances.
Probably need lots more testing/experience. (Score:2)
Something like the BMW C1 [bmw-c1.de] may be a better choice for somewhat safer two-wheeled transportation; it does seem to reduce injuries in practice.
Re:Probably need lots more testing/experience. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Probably need lots more testing/experience. (Score:2)
Now, the idea of a safety cell around the pilot is good, but you can only have it on a scooter that won't leave urban areas and won't generally go over 100Kph (62mph). The only good thing is you don't need to wear a helmet (there's an 'X' seatbelt tying you to the seat), and safety-wise the sheer size and height of the thing makes it more visible to cars than a regular scooter (a BIG plus in stressed urban areas).
Actually, BMW has stopped their production a few weeks ago because they don't seem to sell well at all... There goes another interesting concept.
I don't know how such a concept, declined into something bigger, would be welcome by motorcyclists (such as me), one of the things we like in the bikes is being free from roofs, belts and other containment devices...
Now to that airbag thing, it's not the first time we see such devices coming up. I remember seeing a similar vest at least 10 years ago. The biggest problem with such airbags is the time it takes to inflate. If you're a car driver, in case of a frontal shock the airbag opens according to a sensor placed in front of the car, giving it enough time to deploy itself while the front of the car gets crushed (and you have a seatblet to keep you from jerking forward). When you ride a bike and have a frontal collision, you're exposed *immediately*, there's no gap between the mechanical shock and its transmission to you. The moment the bike hits, you already are in the air, flying real fast towards the ground or the car, with great chances of hitting something before the airbag's deployed.
Dainese being a top manufacturer of racing and road equipment, I hope they managed to solve this timing problem. Nevertheless, the only way to protect yourself when biking is a good helmet, glove, boots and protective gear (leather is best, don't forget spine, shoulders, arms and legs protective pads). Of course, if other drivers would respect 2-wheelers and if the road planning people would take motorcycles into account, we'd have many less casualties to count within our ranks...
Cheers,
max
Re:Probably need lots more testing/experience. (Score:2)
an air-vest has been advertized on tv for 6 months (Score:5, Informative)
there is a CO2 powered air vest that is triggered by pull pins, connected by a lanyard to the bike. in the case of any inadvertant separation from the bike, it inflates. (even if you don't experence 10G loads)
Re:an air-vest has been advertized on tv for 6 mon (Score:3, Funny)
The one I know of is Hit-Air. (Score:2, Informative)
...and it's been around much longer than that... (Score:3, Informative)
With the huge number of bikes in Japan, it's not surprising that these are popular there. I wonder how well they've worked.
Great... (Score:4, Insightful)
Why not just put a protective steel cage around your motorcycle, and another 2 wheels to increase stability? It would be so much safer!
Heh (Score:4, Interesting)
This is good stuff, as a biker one of my biggest concerns is protection. Dropping the bike is no big deal, wearing the right gear you're more or less safe. But in the case of collisions with other vehichles I'm not sure this will help. But more protection is always good.
Re:Heh (Score:2)
That is the first thing I thought, YT's automatic inflatable collar for extreme skateboarding and fighting nuclear terrorists.
Re:Heh (Score:3, Interesting)
Well, I just moved from California [has a helmet law] to Texas [no helmet law]. I can tell you there's NO FRIGGIN WAY I'm getting on my bike [sport bike] without a helmet. Especially on Texas roads. The speed limits are generally lower than they would be on similar roads in California, but the driver's here are so bad that I feel safer doing 90mph [speeding nicely] in California than I do going 55mph [under the limit] here [Dallas/Ft. Worth area]. It's to the point where I'm tempted to start riding tracks only. [Partially because there don't seem to be any nice twisty roads here]
Anyway, the most I've ridden my bike without a helmet is across a large parking lot [helmet propped on tank] and I feel so naked without it. No way I'm getting on public roads without it.
As for the Air-bag vest, I dunno. Maybe it'll be ok if you t-bone a truck or something, but if it were to go off during say a high-side [don't think it'd go off on a low-side], I'd think [based on the size of it when inflated] it would make you tumble more once you hit the ground. The reason leathers are so tight is to let you slide so you're not breaking limbs left and right.
So I'll wear the helmet, but I think I'll skip the air-bag vest.
Ender
Just coincidence ? (Score:2, Funny)
That D-Air is pronounced like "dare" is probably just a coincident, right ?
Is it likely to come with a warning "The usage of D-Air does not substitute driving with due care ?"
Oh my....
Is this the same patent? (Score:4, Funny)
(Who knew NASA technology would pay off in this particular indirect way? Now our motorcyclists are bouncing around like Mars Pathfinder... After the accident maybe they can enjoy some refreshing TANG.)
Re:Is this the same patent? (Score:2)
That is exactly the mental image I had! Complete with loony sound effects. Something like:
CRASH, inflation-Thwump! (inflated cyclist goes sailing through the air) boing, boing, boing.....
Riding pillion (Score:2)
Simon
Worse? (Score:4, Funny)
For the past hundred years or so motorcycle accidents have had an unfortunate potential for particularly horrific injuries, or worse; Improvements in safety gear
Methinks I need some coffee...
What even happened to the honda idea? (Score:2, Interesting)
On the other hand I would also suggest investing in technology to prevent accidents from happening as well as in damage reducing gear. We can build the electronics to accomplish this in planes, why not in cars&bikes?
Re:What even happened to the honda idea? (Score:2, Insightful)
On the other hand I would also suggest investing in technology to prevent accidents from happening as well as in damage reducing gear. We can build the electronics to accomplish this in planes, why not in cars&bikes?
Like, for instance, hundreds of hours of intensive full time operator training?
personal air bags (Score:4, Funny)
Michelin... (Score:2, Funny)
Cool! I imagine what a motercyclist will look like during or after an accident, I guess like this: the (good old) Michelin-guy [michelin.com].
Re:Michelin... (Score:2)
"There is no Dana, only Goo"
I had a vision ... (Score:2)
... of that James Bond coat that inflated to turn the wearer into an oversized inflatable golf-ball-like object.
Be the envy of your friends - turn into a bouncy ball at the touch of button. Be known as Pinball forever.
Cheers,
Toby Haynes
Fine for collisions (Score:2)
I'm saying that this is a bad device, just that its applicability is limited.
I love government regulation (Score:2, Troll)
So, how many motorcyclists will die a preventable death before the DOT gets off its ass and allows these.
Re:I love government regulation (Score:2)
I love morons who think it's all the govt's fault (Score:2)
All that means is that the company is afraid of putting out a product that might not spec up in the future. Not that there's a government conspiracy to continue to let idiots die on dangerous vehicles.
Re:I love morons who think it's all the govt's fau (Score:2)
Of course I could still be bitter against the DOT because they won't allow the fast, safe and fuel efficient Lotus Elise into the U.S.
Well, that and mandating airbags in cars before the technology was up to an acceptable and safe level, the cause of some major injuries to me.
Re:I love government regulation (Score:4, Insightful)
Or, how many would be injured or die due to use of a "safety" device not properly tested and evaluated, which may introduce other, more serious problems. Even though "It seemed like a good idea at the time".
These things may be the best prevention device going. Or, they may compound the problems in a crash. Causing the rider to tumble instead of slide, inadvertant activations, too much force resulting in broken ribs, compatibility with other user worn articles (backpacks, etc), and on and on.
Just because it looks like a good idea doesn't mean it is a good idea.
If you read the article (Score:2)
Not that I personally love airbags. I hate U.S.-style airbags in cars. But if they're being made, U.S. consumers should have a choice to purchase them.
thats retarded... i'll take my leathers (Score:3, Interesting)
when riding, its important not to have anything on your body in case of a fall. For instance, if you wear a backpack, it has been shown not to be safe in the event of a fall (increased back injury, etc...). this is why they have tank/trunk bags. But this air bag looks like it would only protect your back and cause a more ackward fall in the case of an accident.
also price is rediculous. good full leaters will run you around 500$. the price of the vest is well over that (sure its becuase it is early development phase but still). what about re packing your air bag? i'm sure thats more $$$ too
good concept but not good enough
My airbag (Score:5, Funny)
(dont let her know I said that or she'll yell at me!)
One more way to avoid personal responsibility (Score:2)
Any biker who's rode more than 10,000 miles will have many tales to tell you of stupid cagers trying to kill them, with only the biker's wits and reflexes to save them. In a way, it's a way of separating men who trust themselves from the great scared masses who can't be trusted with dangerous machines, be they motorcycles, or even handguns.
But with this, the stupid cager masses will think they will be invulnerable on a bike, and take up riding. Soon, the body count will rise, how much will an airbag protect one against being run over by a semi, or high siding into a tree at 80 mph?
It's a lot like sin, the safest way to ride is not to rely on gear, but constant, ceaseless vigiliance, and no matter how much you try to protect yourself and your family from sin and temptation, the best way to prevent the excrutiating pain of eternal Damnation is ceaseless, constant vigilance, and being born Catholic.
Re:One more way to avoid personal responsibility (Score:2)
- going insanely faster than any vehicle with four or more wheels
- driving said speed in the rain
- driving said speed in-between car lanes on the freeway
- driving said speed on the shoulders of the freeway
Just an observation from one of the "stupid cager masses".
Re:One more way to avoid personal responsibility (Score:2)
Wireless? (Score:2, Funny)
Someone hits their garage door opener and you get blown off your bike...
nice
It will help in some accidents (Score:5, Informative)
What you probably need is a version of the michelin man suit !
Anything that adds to the protection of motorbike pilots has to be a good thing, but I would suggest that a lot of the problem is from two areas, pilots riding too fast for the conditions, and car drivers / other road users not being aware of bikes.
I was wearing a jacket with armour in it, and a 400ukp crash helmet, without the full face lid I would be dead as the lower part of it seemed to have been the first point of contact I had with the ground as I performed a face plant on my way to going 30-0 mph in a few feet. When on a bike assume all other road users are idiots, and spend as mcuh money as you can (and more) on your personal protection, it *will* save your life!
If you have an accident on your bike the next important bit is the speed you get taken to somewhere that can put you back together... luckily I crashed a 2 minute ambulance ride away from the local hospital (and you have to hope that as you lie there in the road a "helpful" stranger doesn't remove your crash helmet unless they know what they are doing)
Airbags for construction workers. (Score:5, Informative)
Preceding a collision?!?! (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah, riiiiiight...
and while they're at it why don't they try detecting other tell-tale signs like profuse bleeding and bone fractures that also precede a collision.
I guess when the computer determines an "impending accident" it dumps 1.21 jiggawatts into the flux capacitor.
-
Re:Preceding a collision?!?! (Score:4, Insightful)
I'll pass thanks (Score:3, Insightful)
Thanks, I'll pass. When I ride my FZR600, I wear heavy leather gloves, massive leather jacket (along with a spine brace), two pairs of pants (inner one are jeans, outer: leather) and a full helmet.
When I flipped my FZR once and was thrown off, the only thing bruised was my pride (and all the expensive fiberglas on the bike.)
If I want hand grenades attached to my jacket, I'll join the military.
Biking stories ... sniff (Score:2, Interesting)
It was the 3d person of a 15 member group of bikers that had died in the course of about 2 years, and i had enough. OK, most of the blame was up to us, we drove at incredible speeds on public roads ( 200 kph+ was not at all unusual ( and it wasn't on a highway or speedway). We did have a lot of experience on circuit tests and occasional amateur racing. But nothing protects you from your own stupity or that of others that cross your path
On the other had, it's just plain impossible to respect the speed limits with any stock supersport bike these days. ( I used to have a Suzuki TL-1000 R, standard 138 hp, but after carefull tuning it got up to about 150 hp, and reached speeds of around 290 kph ) Going slower then about 80-90 per hour is impossible with this bike
Anyway,I've been reading about this airbag jacket for a while now, but i'm not sure that this kind of stuff will really help a lot.
Sure, it does offer some more support, but at high speeds, i guess it won't really help a lot. And the kick in biking for me was all about speed
But the real kick is in scraping your knee-pads at high-speed turns
And that's where protective clothing really is important, I've been fairly happy with the dianese protective clothes, they've saved my from road burn a few times already, when i was luchky enough to fall at places where i was going slow enough to survive , and had enough place to slide to a halt
Re:Biking stories ... sniff (Score:5, Insightful)
Bullsh*t. It's called self-control. I ride quickly on the open roads, as do all my friends, but that doesn't mean we ride at 100MPH+ on the streets. That's what track days are for.
I'm sorry, but you and your friends were nothing more than squids who took stupid risks, and paid the price. Personal responsibility, buster. It's just like people who choose to ride without a helmet, in shorts and a set of flip flops on a bike that can do 200MPH. Yeah, there's using your noggin.
Darwinian evolution. Get out of the gene pool.
Re:Biking stories ... sniff (Score:5, Funny)
Christ, what was the name of this group? The Lemmings?
Doubtful... (Score:5, Interesting)
I rode every day for 7 years and I'm not sure about this product. This won't protect against the slide (as others have already pointed out), but that only accounts for about 5-10% of accidents.
The biggest cause of motorcyle accidents is when the car driver doesn't see you and either turns left in front of you, or pulls into your lane. In the left hand turn accident, the bike would experience the sudden deacceleration and the vest would inflate. But if it does, the inflated vest makes you a slightly more "round shape." I believe this would tend to cause more rolling and less sliding. At 30+ mph, the rolling effect would likely protect the head and neck (IF you are wearing a helmet), but tend to cause a LOT more arm and leg injuries.
In the accident where a car pulls into your lane, you usually bounce off the car and go into an uncontrolled tumble. I don't believe the vest would inflate.
I also wonder about the vulnerability of the wireless link. If a passing cell phone/CB/Ham radio/TV tower caused it to go off accidentally, it would almost certainly cause an accident.
The biggest hurdle by far, though is cost and use. Most riders are young, predominately male. As a general rule, we either are so young we don't fully understand the risk of riding (or after about 2 weeks of street riding) we realize the risk and accept it as the cost for our freedom. Most riders will spend plenty of money on their bike, but not much at all on their gear, so you would first have to convince the young guy that the risk will really be minimized and that the financial cost is worth the reduction in risk. Not an easy sale! I give it a 10% chance of being successful.
Re:Doubtful... (Score:4, Insightful)
I agree, but I'll add something.
The biggest problem with motorcycle accidents is spinal cord and head injuries, which this device will do nothing to prevent. All other types of injuries commonly associated with motorcycle accidents are very survivable (road rash, bruises, the occasional broken bone, etc...).
I remember a few years ago, someone came out with a motorcycle seatbelt which could be retrofitted to a motorcycle. Not surprisingly, very few bought the idea. The reason is simple: it is fairly common for motorcycles to "come out from under" a rider; slick asphalt or gravel, a flat tire, or locking either wheel while braking will cause a motorcycle to fall over, and most riders would rather ditch the bike than be dragged along with it. (motorcycles will slide on the pavement much farther than the rider.) Once again, we have a device which inspires little confidence in its safety because:
-
The number of accidents in which this device would protect the rider is relatively small, and the degree of protection is relatively minor - the road rash and bruises this device would prevent are relatively insignificant compared to the spinal cord and head injuries feared by the safety-conscious riders.
- The possibility of this complicating injuries in an accident is relatively large.
This is the kind of device which is invented by technicians wearing lab coats, rather than real riders. Most riders are open to safety enhancements, however, the nature of motorcycle riding dictates that different methods of safety be used. In cars, ejection of passengers results in injuries more often than not; with motorcycles, it's just the opposite - many motorcyclists (myself included) are still alive today because they separated themselves from the bike before or during an impending accident. While airbags and seatbelts may increase the safety of automobiles, they have the opposite effect in motorcycles - they tend to complicate injuries while offering very little in the way of accident protection.Re:Doubtful... (Score:3, Informative)
Doesn't protect your back? Did you look at the link? This suit has BIGGER airbag protecting your back than ribcage! Anyone riding a bike without a helmet deserves what they get IMHO.
Important Safety Rule For Motorcycle Riders (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Important Safety Rule For Motorcycle Riders (Score:3, Interesting)
Sometimes, it's just safer to speed. :-/
Dropping your bike (Score:4, Funny)
Oops, forgot the new battery ! (Score:2)
Snow Crash (Score:2, Interesting)
Michelin Man (Score:2)
Excellent...So what's next?? (Score:2)
Son, I'm telling you for the last time! If you don't put on your D-Air vest you can't go outside and and play!
*Watching a football game listening to the announcer*
Ouch! You know that's going to leave a bruise! I think that's the second D-Air vest that hasn't gone off today!
I wonder... (Score:2, Funny)
N.S. Sir, our sensors indicate that your wearable air bag has actuated. Are you currently bouncing down the road like a beachball?
Biker: Unmff, ouch!, Damn!...nnngggohhh...
no head protection (Score:2)
I can just see it. (Score:5, Insightful)
And your arm will be hanging from that tree...
And your head will be there by the curb...
But your torso will be in a remarkably preserved state!
Style and Alternate Uses (Score:2, Funny)
What about alternate uses
-Base Jumping safety device
-new yuppie teach-your-kid-to-ride-a-bike saftey device
-New Staight Jacket for the mentally Ill
-Really safe sex device
Check this out too (Score:2)
Re:Check this out too (Score:2)
Sorry for replying to my own post...
I sure hope it's rechargeable, because there's bound to be a lot of guys who will forget to unhook on getting off, as is usual with new equipment....
I wouldn't wear this (Score:2)
Until then.. (Score:5, Informative)
It's not just a Harley thing or a status symbol, it is for safety. Leather boots, pants and gloves with hard sole boots or shoes. In a motorcycle ejection or fall off, it is better to gradually slide to a stop then to stick to the ground and tumble around. Leather will allow you to slide while protecting the skin and provide a decent stopping friction. It does not help much when slamming into something where conservation of momentum is tested but for most motorcycle dumps and mishaps it can save your life.
Re:Until then.. (Score:3, Interesting)
I was coming home on my bike once, in traffic, and this FUCKING IDIOT threw his cigarette out the freakin' window, it flew right into my left eye.
Now lemme tell you, there is nothing like red-hot ashes in your eye to make you realise the value of a full-face helmet (it was really hot, so my visor was up). I still can't believe I managed to get to the curb and stop safelly without being run over by another idiot...
Of course now whenever I see someone throw a cigarette out of a car window I get an adrenaline rush and the urge to ram their car, drag them out and beat them to a bloody pulp...sigh.
Scary but funny scenario (Score:2, Funny)
Coincidentally, I actually rode my Honda Magna 750 [mac.com] motorcycle into work today...
Version for Segway also planned... (Score:3, Funny)
It looks the same and works identically except that the trigger goes off if the wearer acheives speeds of more than 20 miles per hour, as on a Segway this is an obvious sign of a collision...
is an airbag the right concept? (Score:3, Interesting)
Perhaps the various semi-rigid body armors are better after all. Does anybody know how effective they actually are? Are there any studies or tests?
In the unlikely event of a 10g+ water landing... (Score:3, Funny)
this is more about scooters in Italy (Score:3, Interesting)
Fun with spark gap generator (Score:4, Funny)
9v battery - $2.29
momentary contact switch - $0.79
WarDriving with a spark gap generator to swamp the sensor in the exploding vest - priceless
--
Re:Deceleration (Score:2, Informative)
1) bike with object (or road)
2) rider with object
3) riders organs with his/her skeleton
The second two collisions are what kills. The rapid decelleration of the first collision will precede the other two - triggering the device.
Who said anything about brakes?
Re:The picture (Score:2)
Re:The picture (Score:4, Informative)
It doesnt take much of a knock to the head to kill, you can kill yourself when the bike is
Re:What are we actually learning? (Score:2, Funny)
Unfortunately, drivers of SUVs aren't required to take these safety courses and end up killing a fair amount of their own citizens in smaller vehicles and motorcycles.
I knew SUV's were large, but I didn't realize that they constituted soverign nations yet. I guess I'll stick to walking.
Soverign SUVs (Score:2)
Re:What are we actually learning? (Score:2)
Ummm... motorcycle drivers are not required to take a safety course in the states (that is, if you are referring to the United States of America) That sort of thing is set by the state anyway. Motorcyclists are encouraged to take a safety course, and doing so makes it much easier to get a license. I believe that the laws elsewhere (particularly in Europe) enforce much stricter licensing requirements (such as graduated licensing). I used to be a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor (I let my certification expire- too much work in miserable conditions for too little pay).
There are some states that require you take a motorcycle safety course if you are under 18 and want to get a motorcycle license, but if you're over 18 in most places, all you have to do is pass the test(s).
I thouroughly recommend the MSF courses for anyone who is even thinking about getting a motorcycle- they are the best form of instruction we have. They have proven techniques and a demonstrated track record. One of the most important concepts stressed is that motorcycles are dangerous and you must accept the risk, or not ride. They teach ways to reduce the risk, but it can't be eliminated.