The Spanish company System BCN has presented a new helmet that incorporates an airbag activated by a system of fall/accident recognition.

This isn't exactly a new idea, what's new is that these are actually being sold right now starting this '09 summer, at least in europe. I think these are the first ones to leave the proto/test phase and actually hit the market. They sell for 800EUR, around 1125USD.

While these have little to no use in downhill skateboarding for now, who knows in the future, if a stripped down, decent visibility, lighter and less bulky version will be a good thing. Anything that aims in the direction of increasing riders safety is worth a post imo. Also I know there are some bikers out there.


AIRBAG System

 The APC consists of an airbag incorporated into a standard crash helmet which functions as an active safety system. With the APC, levels of protection for riders are increased in the case of a dangerous collision.

The design of the APC is based on criteria of comfort and safety for riders.
The installation, maintenance, communication with the user and the accident detection system have been designed so riders are not forced to carry out complex, tedious actions to guarantee their level of protection at all times.

A very small, simple control box fitted to the motorbike’s crash helmet holder or under the seat is responsible for handling all the stimuli received from the outside. Depending on the result obtained, the crash helmet will receive the order to inflate, so, in less than 0,15 seconds, the rider’s safety levels will be increased.

All this is carried out without cables or other physical elements linking the rider to the motorbike. In the picture you can see the APC control box and crash helmet, the only two elements making up and completing the product.

The bag unfolds around the neck and the back, going slightly beyond the seventh vertebra. This design pursues the objective of improving the stabilisation of the neck during the accident and absorbing possible impacts that the motorist can receive to the upper part of the back.

APC helmets - Primer casco con AIRBAG. Seguridad y tecnología