For bikers the most important piece of safety equipment is their
helmet that they wear on their heads while riding a bike. The helmet is
so important because it could significantly impact the chances of
survival for the biker in case of an accident. Unfortunately since many
decades despite there being advancements in almost every field of racing
the helmet technology has not changed a lot, which poses a serious
threat for modern bikers as well as car racers. Currently the helmets
available for professional as well as average bikers don’t differ from
each other in a big way. Although some of them are more fancy looking
the basic technology used in them is almost same and has stayed that way
from over 50 years. Now it seems like things are going to change as a
new company has introduced a technology for helmets that could make
riding bikes more safer than it is right now.
The new innovative idea introduced by this company is made up of
styrofoam and shell formula which makes the helmets more durable and
capable of dealing with small as well as large impacts. The technology
is not as good in reducing shocks in low speed impacts as it is with
high speed impacts, which will definitely change in the future as
improvements are made in the design. The density of Styrofoam which is
also known as EPS can be varied with precision to control the
deceleration of head in the helmet.
The 6D helmet has affixing gel in between the two layers of
styrofoam. The gel is present between two discs that are located between
on both sides (one on each) of the EPS which moves in six different
directions. Due to the six directional movement of the EPS this helmet
is named ’6D helmet’.
In tests the 6D transfer a force of 49g to the rider’s head at 4.5mph
whereas in comparison to this an ECE helmet transfers 79g at the same
speed. While the difference isn’t huge between the two it is
still substantial.
Apart from the Styrofoam technology there are other innovations too
that have been implemented in 6D helmet including the cutaways in the
shell where the helmet meets the clavicle when an impact happens, which
will be helpful in reducing collar bone breaks. Also, there are paddings
located where biker’s chin usually absorbs energy in case of an
accident to reduce impact on rider’s chin.
While the first helmet model is targetted towards racers, a street
version nammed ATS-1 is also being developed. The sales of this new
innovative helmet will begin in February 2013. The pricing details are
yet to be announced.
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