Stockholm-based Autoliv and Swedish safety apparel company POCwork together, created a prototype of a bicycle helmet equipped with an airbag, claiming that it can ensure the wearer's head safety in the event of an accident.
According to the description, this prototype bicycle helmet features a sensor that detects sudden falls or impacts, a control element that controls airbag inflation, and the airbag itself. Generally speaking, this helmet doesn't differ much from standard designs, and even its weight doesn't affect the feel of the wearer.
Once an accident occurs, the helmet will automatically inflate the airbag at a pressure of 6000 Pa to mitigate the impact on the sides and top of the head, and absorb the impact force through the foam pad at the bottom of the helmet, thereby achieving the effect of protecting the head.
According to the test results, when falling vertically from a height of 1.8 meters and landing on a flat or inclined surface at an impact speed of 20 kilometers per hour (12 miles per hour), the wearer's risk of fatal injury can be reduced from the original 80% to 30%, which is more adequate than the design of ordinary helmets.
The helmet is still in the prototype stage, but POC expects to launch a commercial product in the market in the future.
