Skip to main content

Dainese develops D-air intelligent airbag system to keep motorcyclists safer

dainese d air system improves safety dair3
Dainese

The progression of sport is often bolstered by the development of safety equipment. Allowing athletes to forgo that inner voice telling them to stop or slow down — and instead push harder — is what breaks records and pushes limits, and the Dainese D-air system is pushing the current limits of safety technology.

The D-air system is essentially an intelligent airbag integrated into a vest, jacket, or full leather suit. What makes the system intelligent is the load of electronics buried within the back protector. Consisting of three accelerometers and gyroscopes, GPS, 4 GB of internal memory, and a lithium battery, the D-air system ingests information quicker than any athlete. Once the brain detects an anomaly — decided by Dainese’s patented triggering algorithm — a pneumatic gas generator fills the airbag in 30 to 45 milliseconds without any human input — a blink takes 300 to 400 milliseconds.

Dainese started researching airbags for its motorcycle racing teams back in 2000 and has since undergone a variety of changes. Now, consumers can purchase the same tech used by the world’s top athletes and it’s designed to suit various sports and motorcycle riding styles. Dainese even adapted the D-air to work for snow skiing as well as street motorcycling use, with development currently underway for competitive sailing.

Dainese
Dainese

What allows the adaptation for multiple sports is Dainese’s triggering algorithm. Around 800 times per second, the algorithm takes a massive amount of data conveyed by the sensors and makes determinations on whether or not it should deploy. Having this sort of computing power allows Dainese to adjust its trigger points based on the needs of the sport.

In addition to safety, users also have access to the well of amassed data. Dainese’s Peter Bacon spoke to the future of the D-air system and the eventual integration of more user-friendly ways of analyzing rider data. This could mean an iPhone app down the road, but such development is still a few years in the making. The current data platform that’s available is called 2D and (allegedly) takes a degree in mechanical engineering to decipher — or so we were told.

While the algorithm may consist of code that’s easily altered, the impacts felt by athletes are not. Dainese improves their devotion to rider safety by altering its airbag layout based on the impacts most common for each sport. Collarbone collisions are commonplace in motorcycle racing while on the street, more chest protection is warranted. In skiing, special attention is given to the back.

All of Dainese’s D-air systems utilize its patented 3D airbag. What makes the 3D airbag special is its microfilament found throughout the interior of the bag, ensuring uniform inflation of 5 centimeters throughout. This uniform inflation is what allows the D-air to provide an 85 percent reduction in transferred force (3 kilonewtons) over traditional protection (23 to 24 kilonewtons).

While safety stats may never be the sexiest thing to talk about, walking away from a serious crash will always be a story that impresses. The D-air for street motorcycling is coming soon, with the Mugello R full suit coming later this year. However, the D-air Ski’s timeline for consumer use is still under development.

Mitchell Nicholson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mitchell comments on the current happenings in the motorcycle world. From the latest advances in wheelie control to noise…
Aventon Abound SR combines thoughtful design, enhanced security, and smart connectivity
Aventon Abound SR hero image with couple on the e-bike

Electric bikes are nothing new at this point, and while there are many styles, few purportedly do-it-all, and even fewer actually offer smart or more advanced features. They tend to do one thing particularly well, like cruising, carrying cargo, or sightseeing -- like city riding -- but the biggest way they push the envelope is by offering that long-range electric power. The Aventon Abound SR, a new do-it-all bike, goes far and beyond anything that's come before it.

For starters, it's the first bike equipped with Aventon's electronic control unit (ACU) which empowers intelligent safety features. That gives you 4G and GPS tracking built-in, plus remote locking, an alarm system, and much more. But also, this top-of-its-class bike is incredibly versatile and is suitable for everything from commutes to tough exercise rides and daily routines. It features a top speed of 20 miles per hour, has a range of up to 60 miles per charge, and can carry a payload of up to 440 pounds. Impressive, indeed. Let's take a closer look and get a little more friendly with it, shall we?

Read more
Velotric: One of our favorite e-bike brands is having a huge sale right now
Velotric T1 ST Plus bike couple riding on the road

Take a minute to browse through the e-bike category, and you'll see lots of options but not many that I would classify as accessible. As far as technology goes, they can be pretty expensive, especially compared to your everyday traditional pedal bike. So, it makes sense that most people would wait until the holiday season, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday, to get a great deal on a new bike. Prices are at their lowest ever, and it's a great time to save some money. But guess what? You don't have to wait until later in November to save big because Velotric, a premium-quality e-bike maker, is hosting a huge sale right now. You can head over now to take a look, otherwise, we're going to explore some of those Velotric e-bike deals that are available.
save Now
 
What are these "Lower-Than-Black-Friday" Velotric e-bike deals?

Velotric is claiming these deals are "better" than Black Friday, so they better be good, right? Don't worry, they are. For example, you can grab the Velotric Go 1 Ebike for $400 off, while still getting it in a bundle that includes two free gears. That price is currently $1,299, normally $1,700. The Go 1 features a 500-watt motor, supports a maximum load of 440 pounds, and can travel up to 55 miles on a single charge. Pretty impressive. It's also designed to lug cargo, like a picnic basket, day bag, or even camping gear. That's mostly thanks to a lower center of gravity for the frame and hydraulic suspension system.

Read more
Yamaha offers sales of 60% on e-bikes as it pulls out of U.S. market
Yamaha Pedal Assist ebikes

If you were looking for clues that the post-pandemic e-bike market reshuffle remains in full swing in the U.S., look no further than the latest move by Yamaha.

In a letter to its dealers, the giant Japanese conglomerate announced it will pull out of the e-bike business in the U.S. by the end of the year, according to Electrek.

Read more