Alpinestars started experimenting an airbag system back in 2003 with John Hopkins, and then Casey Stoner, Ben Spies, Mika Kallio and Dani Pedrosa all began wearing data logging suits to help Alpinestars come up with the new Tech Air electronic airbag system, which is targeted for production for June of this year.
Since the idea of making the use of airbag leathers mandatory from 2012 in Grand Prix racing, and Repsol Honda and Alpinestars have decided to explain how the leathers that their riders Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa wear, actually work (but if you click on the Tech Air link above you, can see a video of the suit inflating).
Press release:“Rider safety is of paramount importance and all three Repsol Honda Riders are equipped with state-of-the-art technology in the form of Alpinestars Tech Air electronic airbag system.
“This entirely wireless active safety technology is completely self contained within the rider’s race suits, relying on no external sources of information or system management.
The system microprocessor is constantly monitoring the riders’ movements when they are aboard the Honda RC212V and this determines whether to launch the airbags which are housed within in the rider’s leather suit so that he has virtually instantaneous and highly effective upper body protection before hitting the ground, in the unfortunate event of an accident.
“The Alpinestars system offers a trigger to full airbag inflation time of less than 45 milliseconds, using a nitrogen based gas mix.
“The inflated airbags give in excess of 5 seconds full protection before the system begins to deflate and uniquely, should the rider re-mount the bike and continue riding, the system re-arms offering the rider a second inflation charge and the same level of protection a second time.
“Active safety is the future for rider protection, on track and on the street and the Repsol Honda riders are leading the way with Alpinestars pioneering Tech Air system.
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