Hasta La Ideas

Changing the way cyclists view safety and style with an innovative airbag hood

by L.S. Winkler

In 2005, Swedish designers Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin began work on a joint masters thesis in response to new laws requiring cyclists under the age of 15 to wear a helmet while operating a bicycle. The new law left many Swedish cyclists wondering if helmet laws for adults would soon follow, so the duo behind Hövding used the public’s concern as an opportunity for groundbreaking innovation.

They began surveying people on the streets to understand exactly why urban cyclists were choosing not to wear a helmet. This research led Haupt and Alstin to believe the best helmet they could create would need to be invisible. The Hövding Invisible Helmet is a fabric collar containing a built-in airbag designed to inflate around a cyclist’s head on impact. The fabric shells of the collar are replaceable and meant to be changed based on weather and style, which makes for a stylish piece of safety gear that will save your hair and, most importantly, your life.

The process from design to device took seven years of intensive research and development, recording hundreds of hours of cycling footage and studying accident recreations with the Swedish Stunt Group and crash test dummies. Research has proven that shock absorption from an airbag is actually much greater than that of the polymer foam inside a traditional bicycle helmet. With this research data, Haupt and Alstin were able to acquire the proper government certifications needed to sell bicycle helmets.

Hövding is the Swedish word for “chieftain” and the pioneers behind the name are proving to be leading visionaries in urban cycling. They were nominees for Design Product of the Year 2012 by The Design Museum in London and won a prestigious INDEX Award in 2011. We spoke with the Hövding designers about their product launch, a documentary film that’s in the works, and what to expect next.

When did the Hövding Invisible Bicycle Helmet officially launch and who is buying it?

November 2011 was the official release. So far, we have sold 600. It has been about 50/50 women to men and age has a very wide range—from 15 to about 65. There are varying reasons for their purchase but one thing we see in common is that people who buy the invisible helmet hate the ordinary bicycle helmet. Traditional bicycle helmets are bulky, hard to carry and store, and they mess up your hair. Some cyclists are primarily interested in the safety aspect while others are attracted to the technology behind it, and of course that is fashionable.

Have you heard back from any cyclists about accidents while wearing the invisible helmet?

There have been four or five accidents reported. Those cyclists sent back their helmet so we could collect data from the built-in black box. It records about 10 seconds of information on things like acceleration, angle of movements, the change in both acceleration and the cyclists positions right before and during the accident. This is extremely helpful for our research.

What is the projected life span of the invisible helmet?

The expiration date mainly refers to the airbag’s life span, which is the same as a car’s—10 years. The fabric around the airbag will break down a little faster, though. We assume people will want to replace their invisible helmet every three to four years, the same as you would do with ski gear and most other sporting equipment. In Sweden, we actually have insurance that covers the cost of buying a new helmet after a biker has been involved in an accident.

How has the overall reception of the invisible helmet been?

Very good. Only in the beginning did we really hear a lot of “that is impossible” from older, potential investors who did not think we could make it happen. We’ve been invited to the capital to present and have had shared interest from members of the Swedish Royal Family. The helmet has been CE* marked, which is required to sell a cycling helmet in Europe. Some opinion suggests that the invisible helmet has the opportunity to be an influential export for Sweden.

You guys just finished filming a documentary with renowned Swedish filmmaker and journalist Fredrik Gertten. Whose idea was it to shoot a film?

The film is a response to American documentarian Morgan Spurlock‘s invitation to filmmakers around the world to capture innovators in action, making the impossible possible. At first we were a little hesitant to work with Morgan Spurlock, his films tend to involve controversy, but after we had the initial call we knew we wanted to be involved in the challenge. We are very flattered to be able to work with Fredrik and we actually get to see the first preview of the film this week!

What is the premise of the film and where can we expect to see it?

In all of Morgan Spurlock’s films you see the big guys against the small guys and in this documentary we are the small guys! Up against “the man”. While we were searching for investors early on, we were told many times that what we were attempting to do was impossible. We had set out to do just that, though, invent the impossible—an invisible bicycle helmet. It’s been seven years of research and development to get to this point. The documentary will be part of a series of films showcasing innovators from around the globe at film festivals in the States.

Any innovations to the invisible helmet under way?

Yes, of course, but they are all secret!

Without revealing any secrets, can you tell us what’s next for Hövding?

We have many plans! Our focus will remain on cycling—the industry is very interesting and exciting right now. In the past, the industry advancements have been made for the serious, sporty, competitive cyclist but now we are seeing significant growth in urban cycling and its role in the environment with regards to pollution control even.

The goal is to have new shell designs twice a year. Ideally, working with the seasons—I personally would love to have one made with faux fur for the Winter. We will definitely pursue collaborations and limited editions with fashion labels as well as cycling brands. We’re a few years out from developing new products still. Right now we are getting Hövding off the ground. It takes a lot of time and money to get certifications for the helmet in each country so we’re focused on one geographic area at a time.

The Hövding Invisible Helmet is available online from $600.

La Commission Européenne a confié à Emakina la production d’une vidéo de sensibilisation sur la sécurité des jouets avec des conseils aux parents. Réalisée par Dave Van Den Heuvel, cette vidéo nous montre les aventures d’un petit robot la nuit dans un magasin de jouets.

Previously on Fubiz

• Youth on the Move
• Pantone Christmas Balls
• The Long Wait

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Cycle safely with tiny removable lights from a new Stockholm design studio

Copenhagen may have nearly a half million commuters cycle through each day, but there are many other pockets of Scandinavia where bicycles are popular. In Stockholm, riding without a bell or horn is subject to fines—tickets for riding without brakes are even higher and when winter hits, police target cyclists riding without lights. Fortunately, where there are bikes, there are those who love them and who create great, simple items for other like-minded cyclists.

Enter Bookman, an up-and-coming design studio of bike-lovers, inspired by personal experiences and astute observation. “Biking is the number one way for Swedish students to get around, but the majority of them are riding in the dark for half of the year,” explains founders Victor Kabo, David Axelsson and Fredrik Lindström. Their solution is an affordable, stylish light that’s easily removed so it won’t get pinched by light-fingered passersby.

Recently-released, the Bookman Light has already been picked up by a number of retailers thanks to its super-simple closure system, durable design and enticing array of colors. A minimal re-design of an old Swedish bicycle lighting system, the simple block shape (which always works well in simple primary colors) has a grooved underside so it fits snugly on a seatpost or handlebar with an elastic cord and rubber button. Like Knog lights, the long-lasting LED bulb runs on a small, replaceable battery, allowing you to easily detach and slip the whole light into your pocket.

The lights sell online from Bookman, Colette and The Standard Shop for around $25.

Also on Cool Hunting: Spring/Summer Bicycle Accessories

Superslim body armor and mobile airbags from the leaders of state-of-the-art motorcycle gear

For over 40 years Alpinestars has been developing state of the art technology for motorcycling and motorsports safety. From the racetrack to the street to the sketchiest off-road terrain, Alpinestars leads the way when it comes to motorcycle apparel and protective technology.

The statement, “We believe the best design and research is achieved under extreme conditions,” comes as no surprise, considering Alpinestars products have been through the ringer at the world level, actively protecting top racers in everything from Moto GP to the World Rally Championships. But long before any of their products hit the road, they undergo a laundry list of development and testing.

With research and development facilities in Asolo, Italy and Los Angeles, Alpinestars’ in-house testing laboratories allow their designers and technicians to analyze material construction, strength and flexibility across a wide array of parameters. There’s even a prototype testing facility for measuring the durability of products under insane real-life conditions. Wondering whether your pants will fade? They’ve got a machine that can simulate an entire year of sun exposure in just 24 hours. How will those boots wear? The “walkometer” subjects footwear to hundreds of miles of actual steps in all sorts of varying body weight, stride patterns and surfaces. Couple all the scientific data with the experience of thousands of miles of road testing in the gnarliest of conditions, and Alpinestars can guarantee their products maintain the rigorously high standards the company has set for itself.

Continue reading here.

The focus on technology has led Alpinestars to solve some of motorcycling apparel’s biggest conundrums. One such advancement comes in the form of revolutionized jacket padding that cuts down on typical bulk and discomfort without leaving you unprotected. The solution comes in the form of a premium range of lightweight, slim and pliable protectors called Bio Armor.

Constructed using specially formulated closed-cell foam— engineered with perforations to allow for greater ventilation and weight reduction—Bio Armor protectors offer twice the impact protection with half the thickness. The resulting slimmer profile seamlessly integrates with their jackets in a way that’s much less noticeable than past designs for a better looking jacket with even better protection. All of Alpinestars new jackets for 2011 and going forward boast the latest Bio Armor technology.

Another clever innovation from Alpinestars is electronic, wireless, airbag technology. For over 10 years Alpinestars has been researching and developing the technology to create a state-of-the-art, fully functional airbag system that could ultimately be available to riders everywhere. The system, which provides active yet compact airbags inflate using a nitrogen based gas mix and is powered by a battery pack. Currently, the setup incorporates two bags covering the rider’s shoulders and collar bones, with inflation times of less than .05 seconds.

To accomplish this, Alpinestars created a modified version of their leather racing suit designed specifically to accomodate the necessary electronics, sensors, inflators, and airbags. The Tech Air Race Suit, as it’s called, has been tested and deployed on MotoGP riders and road riders to fine tune the activation parameters. Developments of this active system led Alpinestars to create a now patented dual charge system which offers the rider two airbag inflations without needing to reset or recharge the system. It’s kind of like an extra life, you can crash once and hop right back on your bike, knowing you’ve got the same level of protection if you go down a second time. After that second crash though, you might as well call it a day.

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