STOCKHOLM, Sweden – It’s designed for cyclists that don’t want to wear a helmet. The solution provided by two industrial engineers from Sweden is an invisible helmet. Basically it is an airbag helmet that works in a similar way as airbags in cars. Upon impact the helmet inflates and provides the necessary protection.
Inventors of the airbag helmet are industrial designers Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin. After years of development the company is ready to release the airbag helmet named ‘Hövding’ to the market.
The Hövding is actually a collar that inflates upon a crash impact. Sensors (gyros and accelerometers) can distinguish a crash from regular motion. The Hövding is inflated by helium and protects a larger area compared to standard helmets. It stays inflated for some time to protect from multiple hits, after that it empties slowly.
The industrial engineering company collected data during years of tests with live stuntmen and crash dummies to make sure that the helmet inflates only when this is absolutely necessary. Next to the nylon helmet and the helium system the collar also includes batteries and a black box that records the last 10 seconds of the rider movements up to the crash impact.
The Hövding will be available in different styles to suit the personal image of the rider and will be available beginning January 2011 for about 300 euro retail. Helmets can be already preordered at www.hovding.com
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