Autoliv, Inc. and POC Sweden AB join forces to develop helmets with airbag technology
Autoliv, Inc. and POC Sweden AB announced that they have joined forces to study and develop bicycle and electric bicycle helmets equipped with airbag technology to improve head protection and reduce the consequences of a collision. Only head injuries account for half of the fatal cyclist injuries. Although it has been established that helmets are beneficial for main safety, the latest bicycle safety report from the Swedish insurance company Folksam claims that the helmet’s absorption efficiency can still be significantly improved, especially when collisions occur with a car at speeds above 20 km / h (12 mph). POC and Autoliv have worked together to assess the potential of using airbag technology in helmets. The airbag would act as the initial energy absorber while the underlying helmet would be the following energy absorber. After conducting a feasibility study, the conclusion from Autoliv’s research group is that a bicycle helmet with an integrated airbag can significantly improve protection and reduce the consequences of collisions for cyclists. The combination of the two absorbent technologies enables a reduction of the maximum linear head acceleration and a significantly reduced risk of head injuries in crash tests. The feasibility study also showed that the safety improvements could be achieved without critically compromising the design, weight or comfort of a helmet designed with integrated airbag technology. The feasibility study showed that the addition of airbag technology on top of the helmet can significantly contribute to improved safety performance, especially in linear collisions. It is estimated that the risk of a cyclist getting moderate to fatal head injuries decreases from 80% to 30% in a collision of 20 km / h (12 mph). Reinforced by the increased environmental awareness and the emergence of electric bicycle commuting, the number of cyclists worldwide is increasing rapidly. This growth must be supported by improved helmet protection, especially at higher speeds made possible by e-cycling. During the feasibility study, Autoliv and POC developed the first concepts using advanced simulation tools and performed correlated physical crash tests. The successful results of the feasibility study will now lead to further testing and refinement with the aim of further developing the concept and potentially bringing a product to market.