Innovative hi-tech air helmet
Data Respons Sweden has contributed to the technological development the innovative helmet - Hövding- with air bag protection for cyclists.
Published: March 02, 2011
Data Respons Sweden has contributed to the technological development of an innovative helmet with air bag protection for cyclists.
The new helmet is made by the Swedish company Hövding and its main attribute is that, in contrast to traditional cycle helmets, it is worn like a collar with no need to cover the head.
The collar, which is marketed as a fashion accessory, contains helium to inflate the air helmet and a black box with gyroscopes and accelerometers which monitor movement and non-standard deviations from the vertical position. When in use, the black box continuously monitors the cyclist’s movements, and the collar deploys its air bag protection whenever a dangerous situation arises. The unit is charged by USB.
Black box
Data Respons was contacted in 2007 at a very early stage of the development process. Data Respons defined the hardware solution, which included selection of the accelerometer, gyro and microprocessor in the black box. The company was subsequently responsible for delivering the first prototypes.
- Data Respons is a professional and enthusiastic partner. The staff are good listeners and quick to understand what we want. In spite of our rather limited knowledge in the field of electronics, they were always helpful and ready to accommodate our requirements – and we had a lot of them, relates Anna Haupt.
The accelerometer and gyroscope function independently and jointly. In the event of an accident, the accelerometer registers the unusual movement of the cyclist and the gyro registers non-standard angles of inclination. The microprocessor then sends a signal to the gas generator to inflate the air bag. If the cyclist falls, the gyro is quicker to register the deviation of the angle from vertical, whereas the accelerometer is faster at registering inappropriate movements. Naturally, these components work together to ensure that the microprocessor reacts sufficiently quickly.
Collection of movement patterns
In order to separate these two categories of motion patterns, Hövding has collected movement patterns from many people’s everyday cycling over a period of several years. The development process also included staging all kinds of accidents involving bicycles, and recording the movement patterns of the cyclists during these accidents. Life-threatening cycling accidents were staged using crash-test dummies, while other accidents were staged using male and female stunt specialists. All the movement patterns recorded were then collated in a database.
- We have applied for a patent on the unique mathematical method for differentiating between these patterns of movement that we have developed. This method, combined with the accelerometer and gyro, is the brains of the Hövding solution, explains Anna Haupt.
