Welcome to The Tech Race.
In the USA alone, researchers estimate that
roughly 600,000 people are injured each year as
a result of skiing and snowboarding,
showing need for a system that protects and minimises injury.
(SKI AIRBAG)
Now a revolutionary airbag system prevents skiers and
snowboarders from getting hurt whilst moving at high speeds.
When this airbag system detects that the athlete is about to
fall, it activates an airbag that protects the body from
severe shock and injury.
(FRANCE)
(CHAVANOD)
A company in the French Alps has developed an intelligent
ski airbag.
Thanks to this system, skiers are four times better
protected than with dorsal protection.
A device on the back of the vest
is the brains of the system.
It contains sensors that can detect a skier's loss of
balance, anticipate a fall and deploy in milliseconds.
As soon as the system detects a crash,
it will inflate in less than 100 milliseconds to protect
the skier at the ground impact.
Once inflated, the airbag will
protect chest, abdomen, neck,
spine and hips.
We did some tests that showed
that all those zones are
vital for the skier.
The system will remain activated and inflated during
the crash and will then deflate progressively.
We did some tests that showed that with an airbag
a skier is more than four times better protected than
he is today with dorsal protection.
(SKI AIRBAG)
(NECK PROTECTION)
(CHEST PROTECTION) (HIPS PROTECTION)
(ABDOMEN PROTECTION)
(BACK PROTECTOR) (INFLATOR) (IN&MOTION SENSOR)
Now the idea is to use this technology platform for new
applications where people are injured in a fall,
so, of course, skiing, races,
leisure skiing and many other sports we're thinking about.
The concept is based on three steps.
The first is detect.
While the system reacts to a loss of balance,
the idea is to detect the type of fall which leads to a crash.
The second is protect.
The airbag system is activated in milliseconds to protect
the skier's body.
The last is analysis.
Transferring data from the gear to better understand what
caused the crash and verify if the airbag activated
at the proper time.
This will enable engineers to improve accuracy in the future.
The difference between our airbags and car airbags is
the fact that we need to inflate before the crash.
When you are driving and you hit another car,
the system knows that you've crashed,
but on skiers there is no protection, no bumper.
If we wait for the skier to crash on his back
or on his torso, it's too late.
Secondly, we have to inflate very fast but on the body.
We can't inflate too fast.
It's finding the right pressure at the right speed.
It's a compromise. The last point is energy.
Cars have a battery and an engine,
but your body can't be plugged in.
So we had to put the battery and the sensors in
a place where the skier will not even think about it
during the race and get the best performance he can.
The vest not only protects the user,
it also provides key data about an athlete's trajectory, speed
and distance by connecting to a mobile app once finished.
This information can help athletes reach full potential
by analysing their runs and jumps.
With skiers reaching speeds of over 200 km/h and heights of
over 10 metres, runs can be over in a matter of seconds.
(THE WORLD RECORD LONGEST SKI JUMP DISTANCE IS 251.5M)
Acrobatic skiing champion Jonathan Midol worked with the
International Ski Federation in the development of this device.
(FREESTYLE SKI DEBUTED AS A DEMONSTRATION SPORT
IN THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES CALGARY 1988)
I feel like I've contributed to the development of the ski
airbag during the last two seasons.
The product is almost ready for the public.
We've been able to ski wearing the in-motion vest.
It's clear that we travel faster than 30 km/h.
If my feet go above my waist, the vest opens.
This device is reducing accidents in skiing.
Where will this technology be applied in the future?
Three, two, one, go.
(THE TECH RACE)