Honda has filed patents showing a new airbag system that is particularly effective for two-wheel riders.
Safety is one of the major issues in the automobile market as well as the two-wheeler market. And even more so on the latter since the risks incurred by their pilots are much greater during an accident. Moreover, at a manufacturer like Honda which produces cars as well as motorcycles and scooters, there is no distinction between the two, since the goal is to ensure that there are no more deaths. in or on a brand vehicle by 2050. A milestone set in 2021 and which involves in particular the development of new technologies.
In any case, this is what the recent patent filing relayed by our colleagues at Cycle World which shows us the Japanese manufacturer’s progress in terms of on-board safety in motorized two-wheelers. Especially with a brand new airbag that could revolutionize the industry!
An airbag that surrounds the driver
In reality, Honda already offers an airbag on one of its models. And for some time. It was in 2007 that the very imposing Gold Wing was offered with an airbag to protect the pilot in the event of an accident. But if in its operation it resembles one that could be deployed from the steering wheel in a car, it requires having an imposing motorcycle. The new patent that we are discovering adapts very much to the real needs of a two-wheeler driver and could be found on many other more general models than the big Gold Wing.
As we can see from the patents, the cushion of this airbag is a bit particular in its shape because the aim is to surround the motorcyclist during its deployment. For this it adopts a W shape: the two “branches” on the side are used to deploy like arms around the pilot, while the central part deploys on the chest.
Another particularity of this airbag in development at Honda is that positioned in a hatch on the lower part of the tank, just in front of the motorcycle rider, it is supposed to be able to detach from the motorcycle. And therefore stay around the biker if he were to fall from the motorcycle. A challenge compared to car airbags which remain attached. And an effect which is therefore similar to airbags which are worn like clothing (vest or jacket).
Honda accelerates on electric
Unfortunately, if the patent drawings allow us to understand the technology that awaits us, no information accompanies them concerning the future deployment of this technology on future models, particularly electric ones, offered by Honda.
As a reminder, if Honda already markets the EM1 e: electric scooter on our market, the manufacturer should move into the zero-emission market. In fact, no less than 30 two-wheeled electric vehicles should ultimately see the light of day. Even if things will happen gradually and initially, 10 models will see the light of day in the next two years, in 2024 and 2025.
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