As per the World Health Organization, approximately 41,000 individuals lose their lives each year while cycling. The exact number of those who were not wearing helmets remains unclear, but it is evident that helmets act as a deterrent for many.
Cycling UK, along with various charities advocating for bicycle use, suggests that when helmet usage is mandated, the number of people opting to cycle tends to decline.
For evidence, one can look at Australia, where after New South Wales and Melbourne implemented mandatory helmet laws, cycling rates in those two states dropped by 36%.
Research indicates that the hesitation to wear helmets stems largely from doubts about their protective capabilities and the challenges associated with their storage and cost. However, Ventete, a UK startup, aims to address these issues.
Storage issues
The AH-1 is an inflatable helmet, designed in the UK and manufactured in Switzerland, taking a decade to develop.
While earlier inflatable helmets functioned like airbags—only inflating upon impact—the AH-1 inflates using an electric pump before use, taking about 30 seconds to reach the optimal pressure of 32 psi.
Once used, the AH-1 can shrink to a compact size of less than 4 cm (1.5 inches) thick, making it easy to store almost anywhere.
“We recognized that many people are not fans of traditional helmets due to issues of portability,” says Colin Harperger, co-founder of Ventete. “This inspired us to transform 3D objects (helmets) into easily stored 2D objects.”
“The AH-1 comprises 11 inflatable chambers,” Harperger elaborates. “Each chamber is encased in protective ribs made from laminated nylon that resists punctures, wear, and stretching. The ribs are molded from glass-reinforced polymers, offering extra structural robustity.”
Each rib is additionally lined with rubber to help absorb impact energy.
A cyclist himself, Harperger knew that the pneumatic structure provides more compression than conventional helmets made of expanded polystyrene (EPS), yet there was initially no technology available to realize his vision.
“About five years ago, we experienced a breakthrough. After several iterations, we developed the AH-1.”
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Safety Standards
While being inflatable enhances convenience in storage, what about safety? Can it effectively protect your head? Currently, the Ventetete AH-1 holds an EN 1078 certification.
This certification aligns with both European and UK safety standards, covering the helmet’s construction, field of view, and shock absorption capabilities. However, not all helmets provide the same level of protection.
“Once you achieve certification, you are not obligated to publish your findings,” Harperger points out. “We collaborated with brain injury specialists from the Human Experience, Analysis and Design (Head) Lab at Imperial College London, addressing similar concerns.
“The highlight for us was achieving a 44.1% reduction in linear risk compared to the best-performing EPS helmet,” Harperger stated.
Linear risk relates to forces such as impacting the head against a surface, and reducing impact leads to decreased risk. “It may sound counterintuitive, but I aim to extend the impact duration to prevent the head from bouncing off.”
Imagine falling onto a bed rather than a hardwood floor. The impact on the hardwood floor is brief but increases the likelihood of brain movement within the skull.
“By prolonging the impact duration, we significantly reduce linear risk.”
This testing also looked at rotational impact, which assesses forces like twists or shears occurring when the helmet hits the ground at an angle.
In this domain, the AH-1 performed second best among four contenders, falling behind a helmet that includes a secondary inner layer designed to give it a 10-15mm (about 0.5 inch) mobility to reduce rotational forces affecting the brain.
These secondary layers are often found in higher-end helmets; however, the AH-1 aims to make these features available in more affordable options.
Cost remains a concern. Three helmets were tested, all priced under £50, while the AH-1 retails for £350. Thus, while it may resolve protection and storage issues for those hesitant to wear helmets, the price may still present a barrier.
About our experts
Colin Harperger is the co-founder and CEO of Ventetete. He holds a PhD in Architecture by Design from UCL London, UK.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
