camera56
Well-known member
There have been a couple of threads on the topic of riding gear bolstered with inflatable collars and such (for example this one). For those of you/us who edge towards the "this sounds intriguing" end of things, of if you've been hiding out behind "when they start using it on the track," it turns out Dainese is deep into putting just this sort of gear on the track. While it's not clear whether or not The Doctor is sporting the new kit, it is clear the firm is serious about bringing it to market. They claim to have been working on it for over ten years and the general level of specification seems to far exceed what we've read about the jackets currently on the market. For those who care, there is video and more here
[clicky]. Here is the blurb. There is even a cool video . . .
Dainese is proud to present D-air® Racing, the revolutionary airbag which protects riders during circuit racing.
After more than 10 years of study and experiments, D-Tec® (Dainese Technology Center), the Dainese R&D department, introduced D-air® Racing during trials for the Grand Prix of Valencia 2007 in a totally active mode.
In fact during the 250 cc free-training in Valencia, the D-air® Racing has protected the Dainese rider Marco Simoncelli from the consequences of a bad high-side. In Valencia the D-air® Racing has been also integrated into the suits of 125 cc riders Simone Giorgi e Michael Ranseder: both of these two riders felt down and their D-air® Racing have been exploded protecting them safely.
This new rider protection technology has therefore entered the world of racing with a system which, thanks to the use of airbags, is able to protect the rider's body in areas that conventional protections leave exposed: shoulders, collarbones and neck.
The tests performed at the D-Tec® laboratories, in fact, have proved that the system acts as a much better shock absorber than conventional composite protections, with which, D-air® uses in synergy in order to create a head-to-foot safety system.
The most revolutionary aspect of D-air® Racing is that the entire system is contained in a new and very special attachment on the rider's shoulders and back which takes the place of the traditional “hump”.
D-air® Racing works totally independently from the motorcycle and triggers when the rider falls due to sliding of the front (front lowside) or rear (back lowside) wheel or in the event of a highside (see the homepage film of the initial tests conducted using a stuntman at Adria, ed.).
The device is managed by a sophisticated system of accelerometers and rate gyros located inside the “hump” whose signals are processed by a data interpretation algorithm which decides whether or not to inflate the airbag. The trigger signal reaches a gas generator which inflates the bag in approximately 40 milliseconds.
Dainese began working on this project in 1996. The development of the hardware systems and decision-making software took three years of hard work, during which an imposing amount of data was collected on racing bike dynamics both in normal trim and during falls. The interpretation of this data made it possible to “model” the activation algorithm, the real and proper brain of D-air® Racing.
In order to achieve this, Dainese set up a special “Task Force” comprising leading experts in the fields of vehicle dynamics and airbag systems, as well as makers that are particularly sensitive to safety issues. To develop the project, D-Tec® worked closely with 2D and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Padova. FIAT Quality, TRW and KTM Racing Team have also acted as consultants.
Thanks to the total absence of any physical connections to the motorcycle, the trigger system, the inflation times and the protected area, D-air® is very different from any other similar system and marks a “technological leap” in the context of human protection in sport.
D-air® Racing is exclusively dedicated to use on the racing track, whether professional or amateur track riders.
D-Tec® continues to develop the D-air® Street project, designed to protect motorcyclists on normal roads.
Dainese D-air®, air technology.
[clicky]. Here is the blurb. There is even a cool video . . .
Dainese is proud to present D-air® Racing, the revolutionary airbag which protects riders during circuit racing.
After more than 10 years of study and experiments, D-Tec® (Dainese Technology Center), the Dainese R&D department, introduced D-air® Racing during trials for the Grand Prix of Valencia 2007 in a totally active mode.
In fact during the 250 cc free-training in Valencia, the D-air® Racing has protected the Dainese rider Marco Simoncelli from the consequences of a bad high-side. In Valencia the D-air® Racing has been also integrated into the suits of 125 cc riders Simone Giorgi e Michael Ranseder: both of these two riders felt down and their D-air® Racing have been exploded protecting them safely.
This new rider protection technology has therefore entered the world of racing with a system which, thanks to the use of airbags, is able to protect the rider's body in areas that conventional protections leave exposed: shoulders, collarbones and neck.
The tests performed at the D-Tec® laboratories, in fact, have proved that the system acts as a much better shock absorber than conventional composite protections, with which, D-air® uses in synergy in order to create a head-to-foot safety system.
The most revolutionary aspect of D-air® Racing is that the entire system is contained in a new and very special attachment on the rider's shoulders and back which takes the place of the traditional “hump”.
D-air® Racing works totally independently from the motorcycle and triggers when the rider falls due to sliding of the front (front lowside) or rear (back lowside) wheel or in the event of a highside (see the homepage film of the initial tests conducted using a stuntman at Adria, ed.).
The device is managed by a sophisticated system of accelerometers and rate gyros located inside the “hump” whose signals are processed by a data interpretation algorithm which decides whether or not to inflate the airbag. The trigger signal reaches a gas generator which inflates the bag in approximately 40 milliseconds.
Dainese began working on this project in 1996. The development of the hardware systems and decision-making software took three years of hard work, during which an imposing amount of data was collected on racing bike dynamics both in normal trim and during falls. The interpretation of this data made it possible to “model” the activation algorithm, the real and proper brain of D-air® Racing.
In order to achieve this, Dainese set up a special “Task Force” comprising leading experts in the fields of vehicle dynamics and airbag systems, as well as makers that are particularly sensitive to safety issues. To develop the project, D-Tec® worked closely with 2D and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Padova. FIAT Quality, TRW and KTM Racing Team have also acted as consultants.
Thanks to the total absence of any physical connections to the motorcycle, the trigger system, the inflation times and the protected area, D-air® is very different from any other similar system and marks a “technological leap” in the context of human protection in sport.
D-air® Racing is exclusively dedicated to use on the racing track, whether professional or amateur track riders.
D-Tec® continues to develop the D-air® Street project, designed to protect motorcyclists on normal roads.
Dainese D-air®, air technology.
