Intelligent Textiles
Mo’cyle with “World’s First” Airbag Jeans: Safe & Smart
by Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Senior International Correspondent
Swedish fashion-tech brand Mo’cyle has been on a journey for 17 years to create truly safe and protective motorcycle jeans. The further developed latest and safest version of this remarkable piece of sports gear was recently unveiled by Airbag Inside Sweden AB in partnership with French airbag technology specialist Helite and supported with EU funding from the research and innovation program European Union's Horizon 2020.
Airbag Inside Sweden’s smart motorcycle pants activate when the rider is physically removed from the motorcycle at a force of approximately 40 kilograms (88 pounds) per second. A multi-directional ball will detach and trigger a spring-loaded piston piercing the CO2 cartridge and activating the airbag. The airbag self-deflates after it’s activated and can be refilled with a new CO2 cartridge.
UHMW-PE: 5X more resistant to abrasionThe outer sheath of the airbag jeans is manufactured from Armalith denim, a patented abrasion resistance material comprised of 57 percent cotton, 10 percent Lycra, and 33 percent Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE). Compared to Kevlar, Armalith reports that UHMW-PE is 5X more resistant to abrasion, 40 percent lighter, has 2.5X greater tensile strength, and retains its properties 10X longer when exposed to UV light. The jeans are also water-repellent, breathable, and can be worn in any weather.
While the jeans only recently moved from the prototype stage into full-scale production, Airbag Inside Sweden AB by now has produced more than 250 pairs and says more are coming. Their Mo’cycle brand released an airbag vest. Functioning the same way as the jeans, the vest was created to handle impact hits on the front and back.
The smart motorcycle pant activates when the rider in a crash is physically removed from the motorcycle at a force of approximately 40 kilograms (88 pounds) per second. According to the manufacturing partners, the airbag will deploy within milliseconds of being triggered.
With the Mo’cycle Airbag Jeans, areas on the lower body—including hips, tailbone, knees, and thighs—are covered by an airbag that reduces the risk of injuries. Photos: Airbag Inside Sweden AB
To connect the jeans, riders must tie a mechanical trigger belt to the backside of the motorcycle. The belt buckles into the pant’s thigh, connecting the rider to the motorcycle: www.airbagjeans.com/
