Honda’s latest patent filing for detachable airbag in scooters and motorcycles

Safety is of utmost importance when it comes to riding bikes and scooters. Motorcycles and scooters are popular modes of transportation due to their convenience, fuel efficiency, and affordability. However, they are also associated with several safety problems that can lead to accidents and injuries.

One major safety problem is the lack of protection for riders in the event of a crash. Unlike cars, motorcycles and scooters do not have the structural protection of a metal frame, making riders more vulnerable to injuries. This is why wearing protective gear such as helmets, gloves, and jackets is crucial to minimise the risk of injuries.

Airbags in two-wheelers

Airbags have traditionally been found in cars with more than two wheels. They deploy during a collision and prevent interior collisions from harming passengers. In the event of a collision, the driver strikes the steering wheel, breaking his head or ribs, this is not the first time that we are talking about airbags in two-wheelers, earlier honda also came with a bike, a Honda Goldwing tourer, but it was too costly so it was not applied to a normal budget two-wheeler.

This airbag system needs a sensor to detect a collision, a detonator, and a bag where gases can inflate, just like airbags on vehicles and trucks. According to reports, Honda's new airbag system seals off utilising heat applications to keep inflated gases in the bag as is after deployment and detaches from the source.

This indicates that the car is mounted with the airbag ECU, module, sensor, and actual bag. After being deployed, it will separate and encircle its rider. Honda appears to be using a check valve to regulate the rate at which the gases are inflated. We can see from the patents that Honda is now working on two alternative concepts.

Honda's New move

For a very long time, vehicles were thought to be safer than motorcycles since they were hidden and had a framework to protect them from outside dangers. On a motorcycle, however, the helmet is the rider's only true ally in terms of safety. Honda hopes to change that by securing a patent for airbags for bikes and scooters Airbags are offered with both bikes and scooters, according to recent Honda patents. Honda appears to have made a fresh discovery thanks to its knowledge. To begin with, the new patents depict detachable airbags that, when deployed, protect the rider's back and sides of their body in addition to their chest.

Applicable or not

Honda is demonstrating the move very carefully but it doesn't mean that it is perfect everything comes with a drawback. Let's see if this one is properly tested.

One would sit upright on a tourer like the Honda Goldwing, therefore an airbag for their body and head makes perfect sense. But is it practical for a street bike, as Honda has shown in their patents? Will a cyclist survive a whiplash caused by an airbag inflating if they duck to get into a sportier position?

Also, there is a risk that an airbag will pull a pillion's thighs away from their pelvis in a system that was demonstrated on a scooter behind the rider's back. A motorcyclist may sustain injuries from a dislocated spine if they are seated in a favourable position. Gyro-sensor-equipped jackets and helmets may detect a fall and inflate airbags. Up until new discoveries, those appear to be a better bet.

What are your thoughts about the airbag idea in two-wheelers? Do you think the same as Honda?