The airbag is designed like a hood and made in an ultra-strong nylon fabric that won’t rip when scraped against the ground. Hövding protects nearly all of the head, while leaving the field of vision open.
The inflated airbag covers a much larger area than a traditional cycle helmet and is designed according to current accident statistics. The protection is greatest where it is needed most and the airbag provides extremely soft and gentle shock absorption. The pressure remains constant for several seconds, making it able to withstand multiple head impacts during the same accident. After that the airbag slowly starts to deflate.
The gas inflator that inflates the airbag is placed in a holder in the collar on the cyclist’s back. Hövding’s gas inflator is a so called cold gas inflator that uses helium.
Saw this the other day, I think it's an amazing new technology! Correct me if I'm wrong, but in a few European cities where cycling is very popular (and safe), they tend not to wear helmets. This would be pretty cool!
I came in here to post "If the helmet is invisible then how do you know you're wearing it".
Upon seeing the device, it looks pretty sketchy. What happens if your head get's into the way of it deploying? How long does it stay inflated? Regular air bags only are for a few seconds. So when you get thrown from the bike and bounce off the ground is there going to be protection the second time your head hits the ground? How does this thing know when to deploy?!? Is it a lanyard type thing (That jetski's have to shut off the engine when you fall off). It would be pretty pointless to have a G load sensor as you wouldn't cross the threshold until you smack your head on the ground.
E: Also you have a canister of high pressure helium right next to your jugular. Yeah that sounds safe.
What happens if your head get's into the way of it deploying?
I'd assume it can't, but no way know for sure. Presumably the fabric just goes up around your head and doesn't really get blocked
How long does it stay inflated? Regular air bags only are for a few seconds. So when you get thrown from the bike and bounce off the ground is there going to be protection the second time your head hits the ground?
"The pressure remains constant for several seconds, making it able to withstand multiple head impacts during the same accident. After that the airbag slowly starts to deflate."
How does this thing know when to deploy?!? Is it a lanyard type thing (That jetski's have to shut off the engine when you fall off). It would be pretty pointless to have a G load sensor as you wouldn't cross the threshold until you smack your head on the ground.
" Their studies included the comparison of accelerometer data from bicycle crashes against 'typical' cycling.[4] The Hövding contains accelerometers that detect these unusual movements and deploy the airbag if the movement patterns match the profile of a crash.[5] Each helmet also contains a "Black Box" that records the accelerometer data 10 seconds before a deployment.[6] This data can be used by the Hövding developers to improve the product. "
No idea how developed or correct any of this is, but I'd be suprised if they released this without strong confidence in their product due to all the potential liability issues.
I agree I'd just rather wear a standard helmet than wear this thing around my neck and potentially not have it deploy. I wouldn't particularly call it invisible either... it's just yeah...
How useful is a soft airbag going to be against the solid ground? I mean, when you're sitting on a car seat with a seat belt and stuff, sure.. but on a bike, in the open? When the airbag pops and your head hits the pavement, it's either going to get ripped to shreds or not going to provide any protection at all.
The only situation I can think of where I'd rather have a traditional shell helmet than this is if there was a sharp object colliding with my head, other than that I would prefer this. Also on really hot days I would 100% prefer this to a normal helmet! I could probably ride all year round then.
For longer training rides the traditional helmet would be better and more aerodynamic, but for casual riding this would be great
On November 14 2013 13:52 Spaylz wrote: How useful is a soft airbag going to be against the solid ground? I mean, when you're sitting on a car seat with a seat belt and stuff, sure.. but on a bike, in the open? When the airbag pops and your head hits the pavement, it's either going to get ripped to shreds or not going to provide any protection at all.
It's a pretty thick air bag, it will soften any blow big time and provide adequate protection.
On November 14 2013 13:52 Spaylz wrote: How useful is a soft airbag going to be against the solid ground? I mean, when you're sitting on a car seat with a seat belt and stuff, sure.. but on a bike, in the open? When the airbag pops and your head hits the pavement, it's either going to get ripped to shreds or not going to provide any protection at all.
I don't think any of that is really going to apply to falling from a bike at regular riding speeds. The forces just aren't there, and the design would have tough enough material to handle a scrape. If you're doing high speed riding then a normal helmet would be better.
On November 14 2013 13:52 Spaylz wrote: How useful is a soft airbag going to be against the solid ground? I mean, when you're sitting on a car seat with a seat belt and stuff, sure.. but on a bike, in the open? When the airbag pops and your head hits the pavement, it's either going to get ripped to shreds or not going to provide any protection at all.
Well if you read the info, it says that the material is made so that it doesn't rip against concrete. At least based on what they say.
On November 14 2013 13:50 Grobyc wrote: I agree I'd just rather wear a standard helmet than wear this thing around my neck and potentially not have it deploy. I wouldn't particularly call it invisible either... it's just yeah...
It looks like they've done a fair bit of work to make it reliable - I'd certainly trust it, but it would be terrible to have a minor accident, have your helmet blow up, and there's 400 euro down the toilet.
On November 14 2013 13:52 Spaylz wrote: How useful is a soft airbag going to be against the solid ground? I mean, when you're sitting on a car seat with a seat belt and stuff, sure.. but on a bike, in the open? When the airbag pops and your head hits the pavement, it's either going to get ripped to shreds or not going to provide any protection at all.
Again, it's designed not to break, in fact it seems pretty sturdy. It's no different to how a normal airbag protects you, and those protect you from far higher impulses than a bike crash. You can have a look at their video here to see it in action - it looks entirely reasonable.
For me, it comes down to cost. Looks like you have to replace the entire system if you have any sort of accident with it... And you're far more likely to have a clumsy fall than a hit with a car, and both will deploy the helmet. It would be nice to have a helmet that wasn't so obtrusive, and protected you better, but that price point just isn't competitive imho.
Hmm. Granted, I don't think I fell under the "typical cycling" category back when I was still riding a lot, but the point made about "crash profile matching" to activate and "remains constant for several seconds" makes me very leery. I have been in crashes that would probably not match their profile, and which lasted for more than several seconds. (Taking a tumble while going down a steep hill is not going to be over for awhile, depending on your starting speed and what impediments are there to stop you.)
It may (if it deploys) protect you from (some*) initial and subsequent impacts, but the wide variety of situations I've seen and been part of would be a poor fit for this device. (And it goes without saying, not for off-road use. That nylon could be great at taking a scrape, but probably will not stop something even mildly pointed from rendering it less effective if impacted with enough force.)
Of course, I've always taken my chances on a bike - no helmet or pads and doing incredibly stupid things. Less stupid things these days, and much less overall biking.
On November 14 2013 14:10 felisconcolori wrote: Hmm. Granted, I don't think I fell under the "typical cycling" category back when I was still riding a lot, but the point made about "crash profile matching" to activate and "remains constant for several seconds" makes me very leery. I have been in crashes that would probably not match their profile, and which lasted for more than several seconds. (Taking a tumble while going down a steep hill is not going to be over for awhile, depending on your starting speed and what impediments are there to stop you.)
It may (if it deploys) protect you from (some*) initial and subsequent impacts, but the wide variety of situations I've seen and been part of would be a poor fit for this device. (And it goes without saying, not for off-road use. That nylon could be great at taking a scrape, but probably will not stop something even mildly pointed from rendering it less effective if impacted with enough force.)
Of course, I've always taken my chances on a bike - no helmet or pads and doing incredibly stupid things. Less stupid things these days, and much less overall biking.
You're right in so many ways - it's clearly designed for the European market where cycling in traffic is really common. I don't think it's meant to replace an off road helmet, or any sort of extreme conditions helmet (a lot of people wear full face motorcycle helmets for those anyway). Clearly it's looking to replace the helmet of someone who uses their bicycle as a frequent daily commute, and I think it does this well. It looks well designed for those types of accidents, and it's far less obtrusive, which is certainly something many would value (wouldn't want to have bicycle hair when you get to work!) It seems to be aimed at people who don't wear helmets out of convenience, but they know they really should be because of the potential dangers. This seems like a good solution for those people. But it's so expensive, and clearly can't work in a lot of extreme cases the way it's currently designed, so normal helmets will continue to exist. It does serve an interesting niche market though!
Just put a helmet, cheaper, no risk of fail. You're the only one that thinks you look ridiculous with it. Can see how some people working in very classy places really care for their hair though... but that's about it.
I don't see people buying this as anything other than a,"Hey check out this cool new gizmo I picked up". I personally never wear a helmet and I've been cycling for the last ten years now. It's not a fashion or any sort of political statement. I just never have worn one. And I'll continue to never wear one.
I think people that don't wear a helmet now, won't really want to spend the dough on a fancy "invisible helmet" and the people who do wear a helmet are probably fine with the 20 dollar solution from Wal-Mart. So I can't see this really taken off in anything more than a niche market.
EPT![[image loading]](http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/autos/2013-11-12/6ffa5ecc-6f79-4d9a-b13a-054881fff75c_ht_invisible_bike_helmet_dm_120821_wg.jpg)
