airbag‑helmet

source: akernal
HÖVDING AIRBAG FOR CYCLISTS 智慧安全氣囊主要是由兩個部分組成，一個是以外觀為主的Shell，使用者可依自己的喜好，額外添購不同的設計圖案。另一個則是以功能為主的Hövding，能在系統偵測到緊急事故的發生時，觸發充氣裝置後瞬間充入氦氣，彈出有如頸部安全氣囊般的氣墊，保護使用者的頭部。

安全氣囊內置電池、陀螺儀與加速偵測器，感應並偵測騎士的行駛行為，當加速偵測器偵測到不正確的反向或正向加速狀況時，陀螺儀則會偵測配戴者的行進位置是否合乎邏輯，一旦發生違反邏輯的動作，便會觸發充氣裝置。

在衣領前面有LED顯示電池電量和裝置是否打開或關閉，用戶可以用一般手機充電器和一個USB連接器來充電。.
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source: corriereinnovazionecorriereit
Si chiama Hövding ed è stato progettato da Anna Haupt e Terese Alstin, due studentesse svedesi della facoltà di ingegneria della Lund University. «In tanti – spiegano le due ideatrici – non indossano il casco per timore di rovinare l’acconciatura, perché non è pratico da trasportare o ancora perché lo trovano ridicolo. In Svezia, inoltre, fa molto freddo ed il casco non consente di indossare cappelli sotto per proteggersi una volta scesi dalla bici». Il loro obiettivo era proprio ideare un oggetto che, oltre ad aumentare esponenzialmente la sicurezza, risolvesse in una volta sola tutti questi problemi. Grazie a vari investimenti, premi vinti, una collaborazione con Alva Sweden, azienda specializzata nella produzione di airbag e sette anni di lavoro con l’aiuto di medici specialisti in traumi al cranio, per confrontare i movimenti più comuni di testa e corpo in caso incidenti con la normale andatura della bici e realizzare dei sensori ad hoc, capaci di attivare l’airbag in caso di anomalie, ora Hövding è sul mercato.
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source: eldepornauta
Es el mejor amigo del ciclista, todos deberían usarlo y cada vez resultan más eficaces gracias a los avances tecnológicos. Un estudio elaborado por investigadores de la estadounidense Universidad de Standford estableció que el casco para bicicletas que utilizan sistema de airbags –similar a las bolsas de aire que llevan los volantes de los automóviles de alta gama- ofrecerían una protección hasta cinco veces mayor contra lesiones cerebrales en comparación con un tradicional casco de ciclismo aunque formuló reparos sobre su implementación.

A la venta en algunos países de Europa, los cascos airbag aún no fueron autorizados para comercializarse en los Estados Unidos donde se encuentran bajo evaluación de su eficacia desde que, hace cinco temporadas, las diseñadoras escandinavas Anna Haupt y Terese Alstin inventaron una suerte de pañuelo anudado al cuello que continene una bolsa de aire que se activa automáticamente al sufrir una caída o choque.

Los expertos norteamericanos constataron que este casco airbag otorga una protección hasta ahora inédita ante impactos fuertes pero consideran que existiría un eventual riesgo en que la bolsa no se abra con tiempo suficiente para prevenir el golpe.

A lo largo de más de dos años, se realizaron infinidad de testeos y un equipo multidisciplinario de la Universidad de Standford colocó dos maniquíes de prueba, uno con un casco clásico de ciclismo y el otro con un airbag.

Ambos maniquíes se sometieron a idénticos accidentes en bicicletas comprobándose que el nuevo sistema de airbags da una mayor protección pero, si se abren apenas unos segundos después de lo debido, no habría suficiente presión para evitar que la cabeza golpee contra el piso.

“Fue una gran diferencia ya que los cascos convencionales están diseñados para evitar fracturas de cráneo pero no brindan tanta protección en casos de choque”, explicó David Camarillo, bioingeniero de la Universidad de Stanford.

Su colega Mehmet Kurk sostuvo que las posibilidades de lesionarse aumentan con los cascos con airbag porque habría situaciones o accidentes en los que no se desplegarían con la velocidad necesaria para cubrir toda la superficie de la cabeza.

Por su parte, la compañía sueca Hovding, fabricante de estos cascos inflables, aseguró que su tecnología está debidamente testeada estableciéndose que alcanza los máximos niveles de seguridad requeridos por las normas internacionales vigentes.
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source: hovding

Hövding is the world’s first airbag for cyclists and is the result of intensive research since 2005. Through advanced sensors, Hövding can sense the cyclist’s movement patterns and will react in case of an accident. The unique airbag will then inflate, fixate your neck and provide the world’s best shock absorption.

Hövding started out in 2005 as a master’s thesis by the two founders Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin, who, at the time, were studying Industrial Design at the University of Lund.

The idea of developing a new type of cycle helmet was a response to the introduction of a law on mandatory helmet use for children up to the age of 15 in Sweden, which triggered a debate on whether cycle helmets should be mandatory for adults too. Anna and Terese saw their master’s thesis as an opportunity to find out whether it would be possible to develop a cycle helmet that people would be happy to wear – whether they had to or not.

The project resulted in the concept of an airbag helmet, which won Innovationsbron’s Ideas Grant. This kick-started the process of developing Hövding into a real product. In 2006 Hövding won the Venture Cup, after which Hövding Sweden AB was founded.

Today Hövding consists of 20 people, each with their own unique expertise, different backgrounds and personalities, inspired by each other and working closely together. We all see the impossible as a trigger and curiousity as a virtue.

Anna Haupt left the company in december 2014 and Terese Alstin left in february 2015.

HEAD OFFICE AND PRODUCTION

Our head office is located in Malmö in Sweden. We also have a small branch in Kungälv. The final assembly of Hövding is carried out by Nihon Plast, in China.
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source: thetimescouk
Inventors who found that cyclists disliked wearing helmets because they spoilt their hair have the answer: the cyclist’s airbag. Anna Haupt, one of the Swedish designers of the device, said: “We went out asking people why they didn’t use helmets. They were quite vain actually. They said they didn’t want something that destroyed their hair. They wanted something discreet, invisible if possible.”
She and Terese Alstin developed the Hövding helmet, a collar that sits around a rider’s neck, with sensors that detect movements indicating an imminent crash. It inflates in milliseconds. They began creating the device seven years ago when helmets were made compulsory for children in Sweden.
The device, which has been cleared by European safety standard regulators, is now available to British customers through the company’s website and costs €399 (£337). It has a rechargeable battery, is waterproof, and is put on with a zip. It looks elegant, sitting on a person’s shoulders like a scarf.
Ms Haupt suggested that the gadget also provides more safety than traditional helmets.
“The biggest advantage is the shock-absorbing capacity,” she said. “If you hit something, it’s important that the helmet can absorb as much force as possible so the brain doesn’t have to. Our airbag is very thick and absorbs the hit in an accident more softly than conventional helmets with plastic material.”
Designers have described it as a revolutionary device, while cycling campaigners said it may persuade many people to begin wearing helmets on the road and encourage others to start riding their bikes once more.
“It’s another option for people who want added security,” said Martin Key, campaigns manager at British Cycling. “If it gets more people out riding, then I’m for it.”
However Mr Key suggested that cyclists should not have to wear a helmet if they preferred not to, emphasising that the pursuit is largely safe.