Engineering On The Edge

When I was a kid, I never wore a bicycle helmet. I don’t remember ever seeing anybody else wear one either, for that matter. I thought they looked dorky, and I figured that the best way to prevent injuring my noggin during a bike ride would be to not ever wreck my bike.

But now I have children, and I make them wear helmets. To set a good example, I now wear one, too. I still think it looks a little dorky, but I’m a lot less steady on a bike now, age having eroded my confidence in being able to stay upright.

Other folks are willing to go to some significant extremes when it comes to staying safe and looking cool on a bike, however. Some Swedish designers have created what they refer to as an “invisible bike helmet” called the Hövding. I was hoping it would be invisible like Wonder Woman’s invisible jet, but it’s actually a thick collar worn around the neck that includes an airbag for your head.

A motion-detection system (including battery-powered accelerometers and gyroscopes) detects crash conditions, then envelops the rider’s head in an airbag. The collar also includes “black box” style technology that records 10 seconds of data prior to and during the accident. (If you send the company the box after an accident for recycling, they give you a discount on your next purchase).

You can learn more about the development of the helmet here. The one-time-use device costs around $600, and is available with a variety of shells so you can coordinate with your clothing.

You can view a video below:

Source: Hövding