AIROH and AUTOLIV develop world’s first motorcycle helmet with integrated airbag

Italian motorcycle helmet manufacturer Airoh and automotive safety system developer Autoliv have collaborated in the world’s first motorcycle helmet concept with an integrated airbag.

Set to be presented officially as a world first at EICMA 2022, the international motorcycle and accessories exhibition, the prototype is said to open a new chapter in motorcycle safety.

Research and development departments of Airoh and Autoliv have been working for over two years on the concept to define how a motorcycle helmet could be designed with an integrated airbag. They say the pre-study showed the substantial protection improvements could be reached without critically compromising the design, weight, or comfort of a helmet designed with integrated airbag technology.

The pre-study took inspiration from a young Italian engineer, Roberta Descrovi. Whilst studying for her degree at Sheffield Hallam University, her intuition was to focus on the evaluation of a motorcycle helmet equipped with a system able to inflate in case of an accident providing the rider with a protection far beyond current state-of-art helmets.

“Since the birth of our company, 25 years ago, we have always focused on the safety of those who wear our helmets. This ‘obsession’ has also impacted the development of the helmet with an integrated airbag”,  says Antonio Locatelli, CEO and founder of Airoh. “Roberta’s findings were absolutely innovative and the early discussions we had with Autoliv, convinced us of the feasibility of an ambitious concept able to revolutionize the safety of millions of motorcycle riders.”

This collaboration with AIROH shows how the research conducted by Autoliv, the worldwide leader in automotive safety system, can also be an important resource for the motorcycle industry.

“To substantially reduce the number of motorcycle rider injuries and fatalities, we need to take a holistic approach where we investigate several combined countermeasures. Wearing a helmet is still the most important protection for a motorcycle rider. Our insights into in-depth crash data, biomechanics knowledge and tools for injury assessment, in combination with the expertise from AIROH is an excellent opportunity to enhance head protection for riders and to save more lives.” Says Mikael Bratt, President and CEO of Autoliv.

Both companies will be present at EICMA 2022, the International motorcycle and accessories exhibition, and at their respective stands there will be the possibility to see the concept of the helmet with an integrated airbag and meet the people behind the pre-study.

More information: www.airoh.com and Autoliv: www.campaign.autoliv.com/eicma-2022