Dainese D-Air DH Airbag Prototype Protects MTB Racers on the World Cup

This isn’t the primary cycling-specific airbag we’ve seen. There have been fascinating ideas from the airbag ring in a POC commuter helmet, to Helie B’Protected vest, to the EVOC commuter backpack that I’ve personally had inflated round me in a crash preview, to the lately troubled Hövding hidden airbag helmet in a shawl. The concept of a sensible, almost-instantly-inflating airbag for additional private safety is a promising thought throughout a variety of biking disciplines.

However now, Dainese seems to be to be the primary to take it to a full gravity racing stage of efficiency with their Dainese D-air Bike Prototype 0.1 protector vest.

So what makes D-Air distinctive?

The Dainese D-air system is a bit totally different that different bike-specific airbags. In contrast to the large puffy airbag pillows we’ve seen in earlier biking merchandise, D-air is proscribed to a couple of 5cm/2″ airbag. And meaning, it will possibly match beneath a traditional chest & again protector like we see right here. And it will possibly match beneath your loose-fit or stretchy mountain bike clothes.

The Dainese D-air system makes use of a skinny airbag with an enormous variety of microfilaments inside connecting the bladder’s 2 sides. That manner it inflates solely to a medium however constant strain (1.25-1.75bar / 18-25psi). And a localized influence on one spot is not going to permit the airbag to bulge or deform the form of the opposite non-impacted areas of the airbag. The result’s a thinner cushion of safety, however extra immune to impacts. And meaning you’ll be able to even put on it beneath different clothes.

On the motorbike aspect, Dainese claims their Degree 2 airbag can soak up an influence 7x that of the standard prime Degree 1 again protector.

Controller tech for the MTB model is just about the identical as for moto since 2007 or Alpine snowboarding since 2018. However now, Dainese tailored and reprogrammed it for DH mountain bike crash traits. “The digital management unit that includes accelerometers, gyroscopes and GPS along with a classy algorithm signifies that the system autonomously acknowledges the dynamics of a fall and prompts the Defend, the patented microfilament airbag, when wanted, defending athletes in opposition to influence.” Dainese describe airbag inflation as taking just a few thousandths of a second, powered by a gasoline generator. And not less than on the moto aspect, it may be safely recharged 2x by the top person. Then, the person sends it off to Dainese for inspection after 3 crashes with airbag inflation.

DH Race-ready prototype

Official particulars stay skinny on the D-air Bike Prototype 0.1 airbag protector worn by the Dainese Pirelli Canyon CLLCTV workforce in follow runs for the UCI DH World Cup in Les Will get final weekend. So, we will solely look carefully on the photographs from Dainese to garner some extra data about what’s occurring.

What we see in entrance is a normal Dainese Rival Bike Chest protector. (A protector already licensed L1 on the again & L2 on the chest.) However inside is a skinny airbag reservoir that seems to cowl your entire define of the Rival protector. Importantly, there may be additional safety on the prime of the shoulders and additional broad protection over the collarbones. Plus, there’s additional neck safety the place it might rise to fulfill the helmet in a crash, like a neck brace.

Shut-up pictures present a small D-air controller field on the rider’s left aspect. There’s an additional strap throughout the bottom section of the chest protector.

And an LED ‘armed’ indicator seems positioned on the rider’s proper, seen via their jersey. (Possibly that’s a unique model than the Prototype 0.1 we’ve been proven?

The again options an all-new segmented hardshell design. Dainese seems to be to have tailored the polypropylene plates over a versatile Nidaplast internal core from their Wave moto again protectors.

When is a Dainese D-Air Bike DH airbag coming?

Virtually definitely not this yr. The truth that Dainese mentioned the workforce solely used it for ‘preparatory runs’ confirms that it hasn’t been licensed but. And that the system is built-in beneath an already-certified Degree 1 again protector means that nobody is placing their full religion within the system, but. Possible, Dainese are utilizing coaching as a chance to supply the riders a bit of additional safety, with the off-chance profit that if one of many riders crashes, they’ll be capable to see the way it performs in a real-world situation.

That’s the inevitable conundrum of testing & creating new safety. You need to see the way it fares in a crash. However you additionally don’t need your testers to crash and danger critical harm.

My guess is that we’ll see Dainese accumulate extra trip knowledge with the workforce on the match & really feel of the D-air Bike airbag system for the remainder of this yr. After which possibly they’ll have a lighter, extra open design that doesn’t require a full L1/L2 again & chest protector someday subsequent yr.

A Dainese DH airbag is certainly an fascinating idea although. And if this might present extra wraparound safety, and even possibly neck brace safety with out bulk or restricted motion… it might actually be a gamechanger.

Dainese.com