For anyone who uses a car, collisions are an ever-present danger – that's why vehicles are equipped with safety features such as airbags. For senior citizens, however, simply falling down can also result in life-changing injuries. With that in mind, Pennsylvania-based company ActiveProtective is developing a wearable airbag that deploys in the event of a fall, to protect seniors' hip bones. The concept was originally developed in collaboration with Ixon, using its sponsored racers Bradley Smith and Aleix Espargaro, as well as by sending 500 vests out to road riders around Europe; all of the data gathered has helped to develop the algorithms that control the deployment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web–based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. Accessed August 5, 2016. Ixon was the first manufacturer offering a standalone vest, which proved popular with riders that already have kit they don’t want to change; apparently one of the major markets is motorcyclists with Rukka textile kit. Motorcycle airbag technology has come a long way in the past few years – from initial ideas that saw airbags fitted to bikes, to the tether-triggered devices like Helite and the wireless Dainese and Alpinestars options.

The Helite, which is set off by a lanyard attached to the motorbike, offers a fairly universal and easily rechargeable system that slips over pretty much any kit, whereas the Italian brands’ devices use electronic triggering, but have to be sent away for repair once they’ve fired. As soon as the In&Box [the control unit] is switched on, the sensors inside are constantly measuring and analysing the rider’s movements,” says Quentin Forge, trade marketing manager of In&motion. “The information captured by the box is extremely precise, and thus identifies if there is a normal, or a dangerous driving situation. When these values exceed the trigger thresholds, the system will fire the airbag’s inflator.”But we’ve made a commitment to offer a 100% coverage rate with zero cases of inappropriate triggering.”

The airbag coverage offered by In&Motion is the same across all the brands that use the technology – here it’s shown in the Ixon universal airbag vest When we develop a new algorithm, we replay all the recording sequences stored in our database. By simulating journeys with this new detection strategy, we visualize the progress made and our ability to cover the falls experienced by our users. Now though, there’s a lot more choice, with Helite introducing its own electronic system to complement its tethered devices, and In&motion’s stand-alone airbag that’s compatible with a wide range of products, from the Ixon vest (designed to be worn under the majority of kit), to Furygan , RST , Held, Klim and Tucano Urbano textiles and leathers, with more brands coming on board.On some airlines, a coat is considered a personal item and can account for part of your total allowance. Personal crash protection systems designed for high-speed sports like motorcycling and downhill skiing rely on similar components.This “smart” vest is a significant advance in fall protection. For decades, one of the few options was the AHIP protector–a bulky undergarment with padding for the hips. The Tango Belt, made in France, is equipped with sensors and deploys one airbag over each hip, leaving other areas exposed to injury. Anatomie offers a lifetime guarantee on all their products, which speaks volumes about the quality of the design. The relaxed fit with adjustable drawstring waistband design promises to flatter any body shape while retaining all the classic trench coat design features such as shoulder epaulets. Img: Anatomie It’d be easy to avoid triggering the system at the wrong time if it were never triggered, just as it’d be easy to cover absolutely every fall by triggering the airbag every time, even in situations where it’s not necessary, so we’re constantly walking this tightrope. Now 13, Max Hardy has been racing since he was just six. Thanks to Michael Wincott Photography for permission to use this great shot of Max at Mallory in 2021

The potential disadvantage with RST’s implementation is that, if the garment is severely damaged in a crash, the whole thing will need replacing. Still, at these prices, and remembering that the In&Box will likely be fine, you probably won’t be too worried. Tiny sensors will detect a fall in progress. Then, airbags inflate in less than a half-second to absorb the impact of the fall and reduce the risk of severe injury. The bags rapidly deflate to ensure a soft landing, like a deflating air mattress. To turn the box off, simply double-tap the centre button; doing the same turns it on again. There is a slide switch, but this must never be used without first shutting the box down with a double-tap. From the luxury travel brand Anatomie, the stylish and chic Marais Travel Trench Coat is fashionable and functional.In 2020, Max Hardy – who’s grown up racing alongside his dad and grandad – won the Pre-Teen Ninja race series. His Dad, a previous Yamaha Past Masters championship winner, came second in the Senior 300 cup on the same year. The times the In&motionsystem doesn’t trigger are typically low speed accidents or very rare situations, but these situations are complex, and still need more data on our side to be well covered at the right time without creating inappropriate triggering or efficiency drops in other falls.

If you have any faults with the control box at all – including a failing battery, which should be automatically identified), you’ll get a new In&Box, but when buying outright you’re limited to a two-year warranty. Get a Sample PDF of the Report: https://www.reliablebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample/1649880 Held also offers its own In&motioneVest, which clips into its garments, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it also soon has its own standalone version.Most strategies to reduce injuries from falls focus on prevention. Dr. Davenport decided a different approach was needed: fall protection.