HOW IT WORKS
GENERAL OPERATION
Helite systems have been developed and refined over many years to be the most reliable and fastest system on the market. To achieve the impressive results that our products deliver, the general operation is designed to be as simple as possible.
1
ACCIDENT
Rider hits an object or gets thrown off by their bike or horse. This may happen for equestrians when either the jump is too high, or the horse changed it's mind. For Motorcyclists, this can happen during daily commute if debris is on a highway or you get cut off at an intersection unexpectedly but there is an infinite number of possible scenarios.
2
TRIGGER
Rider falls off-They fall or slide away from their bike or horse and at certain distance, trigger activates and opens CO² Canister to inflate air bladders. Mechanical system uses strong but flexible tether or lanyard and releases pre-tensioned sliding mechanism loaded by heavy duty spring to drive sharp tip into CO2 Canister opening while Electronic system uses MEMS Gyros, Accelerometers, Magnetometers along other sensors and special algorythms to determine probability of fall is high, and trigger tiny charge that accelerates sharp sliding tip into CO2 Canister.
3
INFLATION
Rider's airbag is inflated. With inflated airbag system, rider hits the ground, a tree, or any other solid object in their way with their upper body, and impact forces are GREATLY reduced. Upon impact, point of contact gets pressed inward-pressure builds on that area inside air bladder, then through pressure equalization from that point into the whole air volume of the airbag, kinetic impact energy disperses sideways and all around airbag bladder, highly reducing forces on entire body during rapid deceleration. The stiff airbag cage also highly limits range of motion of spine, back, thorax, neck and head, greatly reducing risk of injury from hyperextension of cervical and spinal vertebrae.
MECHANICAL AIRBAG SYSTEM
Helite offers two methods of inflation—mechanical and electronic.
Both methods offer excellent protection against the high-energy impacts, and have their different use-cases.
The mechanical version was the first system to be invented, and has proven it's reliability and easy-to-use characteristics through thousands of inflations and protection of riders over 20 years - since the founding of Helite.
It uses a high-energy spring-loaded system, in which a piston with a sharp front edge is locked by a lanyard and a metal ball mechanism - and upon falling off, a certain force is applied automatically onto the ball - releasing the piston, that then drives a sharp edge into the bottom of a CO₂ canister, which in turn releases high pressure, non toxic Co2 gas into the tubes and channels of the airbag jacket, providing a high pressure air cushion.
MECHANICAL TRIGGER SYSTEM
PULL FORCE
OF 15-30 KG
RELEASES PISTON
IN AN INSTANT.
PISTON
IS PIERCING THE
CO² CANISTER & COMES BACK TO GIVE WAY FOR GAS.
CO² GAS
IS RELEASED TO INFLATE
AIRBAG TO FULL PRESSURE
EXTREMELY FAST.
EVERYTHING HAPPENS
IN UNDER 5 MILLISECONDS
VISIT OUR SHOP TO SEE ALL MECHANICAL AIRBAG PRODUCTS
ELECTRONIC AIRBAG SYSTEM
Evolved from decades of experience with a purely mechanical system, the electronic airbag system from Helite has been the next development step in airbag technology. It enables various features to be used - but it's main advantage is its added convenience of being tetherless and added road safety during unexpected side-impacts such as when stopped at an intersection.
The trigger and deployment mechanism is mostly the same as how the mechanical system works; Instead of a traditional, reliable lanyard that releases a piston to pierce the CO2 Canister, the electronic system uses a very small, fully controlled charge to accelerate a bullet-shaped piston that will pierce the bottom of the CO2 Canister, unleashing its high-pressure content that will rapidly inflate the airbag tubes and channels for maximum protection.
1
DETECTION
-
Algorithms detect fall
-
Processor confirms Accel. Gyro, GPS data
-
Software calculates confidence level based on current data trajectory
2
TRIGGER
-
ECU confirms a fall as detected, then sends electrical signal to Charge in CO2 Canister
-
Signal triggers charge, pushes up metal tip
-
metal tip pierces CO2 Canister
3
INFLATION
-
CO2 Canister pierced, CO2 rushes out into air bladder
-
Tubes and channels around body inflates with gas
-
Fully pressurized airbag protects rider during impact!
VISIT OUR SHOP TO SEE ALL ELECTRONIC AIRBAG PRODUCTS
