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Motorcycle Safety Equipment
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The motorcycle rider of the 21st century is better protected now than
ever before. And emerging materials and products look set to continue
this trend. Especially once this sort of stuff gets popular!
Airprotek Jacket Inflated
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Airbag motorcycle jacket
The motorcycle rider of the 21st century is better protected
now than ever before. And emerging materials and products look
set to continue this trend. Honda first proposed the use of
airbags on their GoldWing model in 2006. And now
a company called Airprotek has begun to use similar technology
incorporated into jackets to protect riders in the event of
a collision.
The Airprotek airbag jackets are connected to the bike by a
toggle, when the rider leaves the bike the toggle pulls a 'key'
from a gas release canister which inflates the jacket in under
1/2 a second. The airbags protect the neck, back and hip area.
Around 6 seconds after inflation the jacket deflates.
Don't worry about getting off your bike in normal circumstances,
calmly strolling away, forgetting to unhook the system, and
blowing up like a puffer fish to the sound of delirious laughter.
The toggle requires considerable force to trigger gas release.
You'll probably just pull your bike over.
In tests, and real life scenarios, the Airprotek air bag jacket
has performed admirably. And the line of jackets they manufacture
all come with the standard elbow, shoulder, spine armor found
in any other jacket.
Already the jackets are used by police forces in Italy, Japan,
Brazil and Spain. |
Intelligent Materials
Non-Newtonian liquids have the unique properties of both liquids
and solids. The genius' at d3o lab are developing a material
with similar properties.
Under normal conditions the material is supple, flexible, and
easily integrated into protective clothing. However when it
is struck or hit the substance takes on the properties of a
solid. The 'intelligent molecules' bunch together making the
material more dense.
d3o foresee a use for the material in the sporting world, boots,
headgear, gloves etc. amongst other items. But build this into
a motorcycle jacket WITH an airbag, cover it in leather and
lives will be saved.
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