Alpinestars Airbag Tech | GTAMotorcycle.com

Alpinestars Airbag Tech

CafeRay

Well-known member
Alpinestars Electronic Airbag Technology


http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/news/alpinestars-electronic-airbag-technology?dom=fb&src=SOC

Upon deployment, the inflation system releases a cold, pressurized, Nitrogen-based gas mix with the aid of a small pyrotechnic charge that fully inflates the
airbag within 45 milliseconds.
Unique, all-in-one airbag, developed by Alpinestars using a highly advanced 3-D weave. The production process is entirely computer controlled with no human interaction and no stitching processes. The ergonomic body shaping is created with a precision laser cutter and the inflation profile is engineered to create an exact body contour following fit. This ensures protection is maximized with accurate positioning throughout an impact sequence.
The airbag is designed to optimize protection around the rider’s body with sections allowing specific inflation volumes over each area of the body: shoulders – high volume, back – medium volume, torso sides – high volume, hips – medium volume.
Alpinestars’ in-house developed micro-processor constantly monitors the rider’s movements while in motion via sensors located on the arms, legs and processor housing within the suit.
The Tech-Air System features a switch on the master control unit which, when placed to ‘ON’, allows the sensing system to be brought into ‘active’ mode.
The system automatically moves into ‘armed’ mode when the sensors detect that rider is seated on a motorcycle and moving at low speed. This prevents any chance of the airbag being deployed at times when protection is not required.
A compact battery pack powers the Tech-Air system and offers over 8 hours duration in full ‘active’ and ‘armed’ mode; i.e. 8 hours riding time. In standby mode, when the system is only ‘active’, the battery will retain charge for over several weeks. Recharging can be carried out through normal mains power using the connector at the top of the master control unit.
Once the micro-processor is ‘active’ and sensing, it is sampling data from each of the sensors within the suit every 2 milliseconds. In ‘armed’ mode, when the rider is moving at speed on a bike, the micro-processor samples the sensor data for any irregularities in rider movement or external forces acting upon the rider. These irregularities are defined by algorithms which Alpinestars has developed, and control the micro-processor commands.
If these prediction parameters, in relation to what the algorithms define as a crash, are exceeded, the micro-processor will initiate the inflation of the airbag. The inflation trigger time is around 8 milliseconds. (This is the time taken to process data during the rider’s initial loss of control, ensuring the situation indicated a crash).
Upon deployment, the inflation system releases a cold, pressurized, Nitrogen-based gas mix with the aid of a small pyrotechnic charge that fully inflates the airbag within 45 milliseconds.
Typically, the predictive performance of the Alpinestars Tech Air system protects the rider with a fully inflated airbag well in advance of the first impact with the track/road surface, even in low-side accident situations.
Once inflated, the airbag offers over 5 seconds of full inflation protection to the rider before beginning to deflate. This ensures a prolonged, highly effective impact absorption barrier for both clavicles and shoulders, the full back, torso sides and both hips during any fall the rider may suffer.
The Tech-Air Race leather suit has specifically engineered expansion zones to accommodate the airbag in its fully inflated state. (The airbag remains completely contained within the leather suit).
Once deflation commences, the airbag fully discharges, allowing the leather suit to return to its normal fit and feel.
The Tech-Air system records all data collected in the central processor unit allowing full diagnostic analysis of the rider’s movements and the forces experienced during any given session.
The battery which powers the micro-processor is installed in the aerodynamic hump on the back of the suit and can be recharged in the same way as a mobile telephone.
A series of LED’s on the left forearm of the suit informs the rider of the current status of the system and warns of low battery power, any sensor irregularity and the sensing status of the system, i.e. ‘active’ and/or ‘armed’.
 
Absolutely fantastic. Just two problems (let's not even mention the price right now): the airbag is built into the suit. If you already have a suit, what do you do? Just give it to Goodwill and go buy this one? OR what if you do not want a suit, but want a jacket with this system?

Second problem, what abou the neck?


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The Hit Air system is the one we used the last few years on the track.

An American rider crashed at Jennings a few years ago, same time we got ours and he said he'd never ride without one again.

They are becoming more popular trackside now.
 

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