Motorcycles

Dramatic "Safety Sphere" concept provides all-round protection for motorcyclists

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A new airbag concept for motorcyclists called the Safety Sphere takes what can only be described as an all-encompassing approach to motorcycle safety
A new airbag concept for motorcyclists called the Safety Sphere takes what can only be described as an all-encompassing approach to motorcycle safety
Motorcycle News reports that the Safety Sphere inflates in 0.05 seconds
But why do they call it the Safety Sphere?
The Safety Sphere has two layers, effectively surrounding the rider with airbag in the event of an accident
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Airbags for motorcyclists, whether built into the vehicle (a la Honda) or the rider's apparel (like the D-Air, Spidi and Hit-Air), are not a new idea. But Canadian inventor Rejean Neron's Safety Sphere concept has to be the most, well, all-encompassing of those we've seen. Described as an "inflatable crash garment for non-enclosed vehicle riders", Safety Sphere isn't so much built into the rider's suit as it is the rider's suit. In the event of an accident, the intended results are nothing if not dramatic, as the CG video promo ably illustrates.

The Safety Sphere is comprised of two layers. The outer layer is made of tough, parachute-like material while the inside is a thin, elastic synthetic. Should the worst happen, the suit effectively surrounds the rider with airbag, (rather than her being inside an airbag, which would be no use at all).

Inflation of the Safety Sphere is triggered electrically. "In a collision situation, the passengers are thrown from the motorcycle," Neron told Motorcycle News. "The cord connecting them to the motorcycle seat disconnects, the electrical voltage plummets, and the electronic circuit processor inside the belt buckle housing of each occupant connects the 9 volt battery to an electric igniter in the back housing of their respective suits."

Motorcycle News reports that this triggers an explosive canister of nitrocellulose to fire, inflating the suit in 0.05 seconds.

At this stage all we have to go on is the CG video, and though it's definitely worth watching (see below), there's no indication of how far advanced the project is in reality.

Source: Motorcycle News

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32 comments
SGTalon
I could totally see rolling off a cliff in this one.
socalboomer
Looks like it belongs in the old Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! LOL
cachurro
If an airbag is so dangerous inside a vehicle, imagine one of these exploding in a crowded street! Inviable outside a racing track.
digi_owl
How long faster this goes into production will someone forget to unplug before stepping off their bike?
yrag
Great. Best of luck getting out to market and into riders hands!
Still, I wonder realistically, who\'s going to wear all that in hot and/or humid weather?
Andrew Spinks
\"The rider was found 3 kilometers down the road when he\'d finally stopped rolling - lucky not to have hit anything on the way!\"
John Hogan
@yrag - don\'t laugh but I reckon down the track motorbikes and scooters will have tiny little airconditioning units that pump cool air into a riders protective clothing. A bit like what astronauts have except cheap and light - maybe 3 kg tops. You can get a unit for light aircraft cockpits that weighs 13kg so imagine a unit that only needs to cool a few CFM of air ...
bas
In itself a good idea but like cachurro said there are other people. Apart from that, it seems as if the ball inflates upon impact. That leaves a rider prone to injuries from the first impact. There is enough technlology that would trigger inflation 0,05 seconds before impact, increasing protection. But.. as Murphy has told us over again.. yup, the rider was found 3 kilometers down the road, a bit dazed, but otherwise intact. The bike continued a kilometer before a tree got in its way. Get the idea?
Joe Tomicki
this could start a new extreme sport. lets see if we can live if I use my bubble suit to.....
Dirk Scott
The video is all very well...test conditions , no other traffic etc. However imagine this on a busy road with lots of trucks. The rider would be shunted from lane to lane like a ball in a pinball machine until some artic (semi) with 40 tons of steel on the back just crushed him.
I have an alternative safety system which is already tried and tested and recommended by safety organisations, police and hospitals worldwide.
Just slow down.