Airbags

[rooel]

See this for something which, if suitably modified, could provide cyclists with effective body armour:

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | People's airbag 'prevents injury'​

and how about a helmet which transforms itself into an airbag on impact?

 

[flecc]

It should easily be possible to design "Michelin Man" protection, but the triggering will be problematic. We already have automatically inflating lifejackets using gas cylinders, but that method is far too slow for cycling use. We'd have to use the explosive methods used on car airbags, but I doubt we could design a reliable triggering.

The mass of a car doesn't accelerate or deccelerate near instantaneously except under accident conditions, but unfortunately we humans do move with very rapid acceleration of various points of our bodies. If the sensor is set to ignore our normal body part accelerations, it would fail to fire for many accident situations, and vice versa.

One possible solution would be a couple of cord attachments between us and our bikes, but that couldn't cover all situations and absent mindedness could cause involuntary explosive inflation displays outside Tesco. Great entertainment for the shoppers, but horribly embarrassing for us.
.

 

[johnjoe]

I could have done with a airbag yesterday,I was travelling through a dark chicane and as i came round a corner some cornish hedge stones were in the road,I took of and when I landed tried to control the bike for about 5 metres, when the bike flew in the air, and I was clipped in,I hit the road very hard smashing my shoulder, and spun down the road with loads of tears and cuts, but I am still here typing with my left hand, for the simple reason I was wearing my helmet correctly tensioned, which was wrecked, the local village school children enjoyed the Air ambulance landing in their sportsfield, I shall make an appointment with the school to display my bike and my lifesaving helmet, to hopefully make an immpression of the importance of wearing a helmet.

 

[Phil the drill]

One possible solution would be a couple of cord attachments between us and our bikes, but that couldn't cover all situations and absent mindedness could cause involuntary explosive inflation displays outside Tesco. Great entertainment for the shoppers, but horribly embarrassing for us.
.

Hi Flecc,

That has actually been tried on several occaisions on motorcycles (in Japan I believe), using the attached cord method to detonate a full torso surrounding airbag. The idea was abandoned for exactly the reason you suggest...... When testing them they found that more than one tester hopped off their bike in the petrol station (cord still attached) and.....Well you can guess the rest!!!! Much hilarity to all except the unfortunate 'victim'.
I wish I'd seen it happen (whilst in possession of a camcorder!).

Cheers, Phil

 

[JohnofCambridge]

Johnjoe

Sounds a good thing to do to show the kids - might also be worth giving them a quiz on how to avoid such situations.

I almost suffered today on the way back home tonight on a national cycle route with no lighting were two pedestrians in dark clothing - completely invisible until they fell within my Bike light and that gave very little room to stop - really had to swerve - maybe my fault for travelling at 12 -15 mph and not giving myself any space but bicycles would have passed them earlier and they had a responsibility to look behind them ocasionally!!!

I have wondered whether a switchable bell repeater is a good idea for some dark areas - just like they have on reversing vehicles but a little less frequent!

Would not have helped with your situation but might with some others

John

 

[flecc]

Hi Flecc,

I wish I'd seen it happen (whilst in possession of a camcorder!).

Cheers, Phil

Yes, that would have been some great footage Phil.

The cord method tied to the boat is used on some lifejackets for man overboard situations, but trust the Japanese to try it for motorbikes.

I suppose one trouble with surrounding airbag cushioning is the bouncing at speed. Someone could feel a bit stupid ending up two streets away from the accident.
.

 

[JohnInStockie]

I have wondered whether a switchable bell repeater is a good idea for some dark areas - just like they have on reversing vehicles but a little less frequent!

This has cuaght my mind in the past as well, particularly as many pedestrians cross the road assuming its safe cos they cant hear anything coming. Some form of high pitched noise maybe?

John