Helmet-Riding to the Next Generation

A helmet is a type of head protection that is worn on the head. By decreasing the impact of a force or collision to the head, a helmet seeks to lessen the risk of significant head and brain injuries. The shell, EPS liner, Comfort liner, Cheek pads, Visor, and Retention or closing mechanism are the different sections of a helmet. The outer shell of a motorcycle helmet can be made lighter and more comfortable by using materials that reduce weight and absorb energy. Metal foams are a type of cellular material that has a number of fascinating qualities, including high stiffness and low specific weight, as well as effective energy absorption. These distinct features make them suitable for a wide range of applications, from car bumpers to aircraft crash recorders. Keywords: Helmet, Material Selection, CFRP, Bluetooth

VISUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY OF AUGMENTED REALITY OBJECTS, DEPENDING ON GEOINFORMATIONAL DATA

Отображение навигационной информации в виде проекции на лобовое стекло автомобиля или стекло мотошлема обеспечивает ее восприятие водителем без переключения внимания с дороги на приборную панель, тем самым повышая безопасность дорожного движения. Используемые в настоящее время технологии визуализации информации для навигационного оснащения автомобиля или мотоцикла достаточно дороги и мало распространены, поэтому создание простого и недорогого в разработке программного обеспечения с открытым кодом, повышающего эффективность обработки и отображения информации, представляется актуальным. Предложена архитектура построения подобной системы навигации с применением технологии подсказок водителю в виде объектов дополненной реальности и использованием открытых геоинформационных сервисов. Рассмотрены применяемые в технологии структуры и типы данных, а также возможный набор аппаратных средств визуализации навигационной информации. Алгоритмы визуализации динамических объектов дополненной реальности и обработки геоданных реализованы в программном коде на языке Python. Разработан интерактивный интерфейс, обладающий интегрированным эффектом от совмещения преимуществ навигационных систем и сервисов геоинформационных данных. Приведены результаты тестирования работы кода при визуализации направления движения по заданному маршруту в режиме реального времени Displaying navigation information in the form of a projection onto the windshield of a car or the glass of a motorcycle helmet ensures its perception by the driver without switching attention from the road to the dashboard, thereby increasing road safety. The currently used information visualization technologies for the navigation equipment of a car or motorcycle are quite expensive and not widely used, therefore, the creation of simple and inexpensive open-source software that increases the efficiency of information processing and display seems to be relevant. The article proposes an architecture for building such a navigation system using the technology of prompting the driver in the form of augmented reality objects and using open geoinformation services. We considered the structures and types of data used in technology, as well as a possible set of hardware for visualization of navigation information. We implemented algorithms for visualization of dynamic objects of augmented reality and processing of geodata in the program code in the Python language. We developed an interactive interface that has an integrated effect of combining the advantages of navigation systems and geoinformation data services. We give the results of testing the code when visualizing the direction of movement along a given route in real time

Development of an integrated cooling system for motorcycle helmet by physical study of temperature variations and heat transfer

In Colombia, the most widely used means of transport today are motorcycles, which have become increasingly numerous, bearing in mind that they are subject to laws and regulations imposed by the country’s mobility, transit and transport agencies, the use of helmets is mandatory for drivers and passengers, safety measures are monitored, the hull must be certified and meet the required technical standards; whereas its role is to protect people in the event of accidents, regulations require that the helmet be completely closed to protect the entire head and chin; the design of the helmet allows air entry and there is no concentration of temperature inside, all this is done by implementing air inlet and outlet ducts, which circulate air when the motorcycle is in motion, unfortunately this does not happen due to the accumulation of temperature in the back of the helmet that makes the user feel tired and uncomfortable. This research proposes the development of a prototype portable cooling system for motorcycle helmets by the physical principle of heat transfer, by using Peltier cells, to have low production cost, optimal operation, and low energy consumption thanks to natural air flow.

The Influence of Headform/Helmet Friction on Head Impact Biomechanics in Oblique Impacts at Different Tangential Velocities

Oblique impacts of the helmet against the ground are the most frequent scenarios in real-world motorcycle crashes. The combination of two factors that largely affect the results of oblique impact tests are discussed in this work. This study aims to quantify the effect of the friction at the interface between the headform and the interior of a motorcycle helmet at different magnitudes of tangential velocity. The helmeted headform, with low friction and high friction surface of the headform, was dropped against three oblique anvils at different impact velocities resulting in three different magnitudes of the tangential velocity (3.27 m/s, 5.66 m/s, 8.08 m/s) with the same normal component of the impact velocity (5.66 m/s). Three impact directions (front, left-side and right-side) and three repetitions per impact condition were tested resulting in 54 impacts. Tangential velocity variation showed little effect on the linear acceleration results. On the contrary, the rotational results showed that the effect of the headform’s surface depends on the magnitude of the tangential velocity and on the impact direction. These results indicate that a combination of low friction with low tangential velocities may result into underprediction of the rotational headform variables that would not be representative of real-world conditions.

Finite Element Analysis of the Motorcycle Helmet Material against Impact Velocity

A motorcycle helmet is the best protective headgear for the prevention of head injuries due to direct cranial impact. A finite element model based on realistic geometric features of a motorcycle helmet is established, and explicit finite element code is employed to simulate dynamic responses at different impact velocities. Peak acceleration and Head injury criterion values derived from the head form are used to assess the protective performance of the helmet. We have concluded that the dynamic responses of the helmet dramatically vary with impact velocity, as well as the mechanical properties of the outer shell and energy- absorbing liner. At low velocities e.g. 8.3 m/s, the shell stiffness and liner density should be relatively low to diminish head- contact force. At high velocity e.g. 11m/s, a stiffer shell and denser liner offer superior protection against head injuries. Different tests were performed in ansys explicit dynamics solver by taking different materials and calculating PLA, Head Injury Criteria, K.E, P.E, contact energy etc. The results obtained for different materials were then compared with easy other to draw the necessary conclusion’s. Keywords: Peak Linear Acceleration (PLA), Head Injury Criteria.

Differences in outcomes of mandatory motorcycle helmet legislation by country income level: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The recent Lancet Commission on Legal Determinants of Global Health argues that governance can provide the framework for achieving sustainable development goals. Even though over 90% of fatal road traffic injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) primarily affecting motorcyclists, the utility of helmet laws outside of high-income settings has not been well characterized. We sought to evaluate the differences in outcomes of mandatory motorcycle helmet legislation and determine whether these varied across country income levels. Methods and findings A systematic review and meta-analysis were completed using the PRISMA checklist. A search for relevant articles was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from January 1, 1990 to August 8, 2021. Studies were included if they evaluated helmet usage, mortality from motorcycle crash, or traumatic brain injury (TBI) incidence, with and without enactment of a mandatory helmet law as the intervention. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to rate study quality and funnel plots, and Begg’s and Egger’s tests were used to assess for small study bias. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were stratified by high-income countries (HICs) versus LMICs using the random-effects model. Twenty-five articles were included in the final analysis encompassing a total study population of 31,949,418 people. There were 17 retrospective cohort studies, 2 prospective cohort studies, 1 case–control study, and 5 pre–post design studies. There were 16 studies from HICs and 9 from LMICs. The median NOS score was 6 with a range of 4 to 9. All studies demonstrated higher odds of helmet usage after implementation of helmet law; however, the results were statistically significantly greater in HICs (OR: 53.5; 95% CI: 28.4; 100.7) than in LMICs (OR: 4.82; 95% CI: 3.58; 6.49), p-value comparing both strata < 0.0001. There were significantly lower odds of motorcycle fatalities after enactment of helmet legislation (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.61; 0.83) with no significant difference by income classification, p-value: 0.27. Odds of TBI were statistically significantly lower in HICs (OR: 0.61, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.69) than in LMICs (0.79, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.86) after enactment of law (p-value: 0.0001). Limitations of this study include variability in the methodologies and data sources in the studies included in the meta-analysis as well as the lack of available literature from the lowest income countries or from the African WHO region, in which helmet laws are least commonly present. Conclusions In this study, we observed that mandatory helmet laws had substantial public health benefits in all income contexts, but some outcomes were diminished in LMIC settings where additional measures such as public education and law enforcement might play critical roles.

RE-DESIGN OF A MOTORCYCLE HELMET FOR USE IN URBAN TRAFFIC: CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND TESTING

This paper presents the re-design approach of an urban motorcycle helmet to prevent users bypassing the strap fastening system. Related studies show that although a full-face helmet provides the maximum protection to a rider, in practice, full-face helmeted riders in urban traffic tend to improperly fasten it. On that notion, the design goal was to conceive a helmet that combines the advantages of different helmet types while responding to urban driving needs. During design ideation possible solutions were examined focusing on different ways of accessing and fixating the helmet on a rider’s head, without using a strap fastening system. Preliminary concept development produced three design concepts, that were evaluated using two sets of prototypes: (a) the 3D printing method under a 1:2 scale was used to detect any design faults, while the 3D modeled concepts were evaluated in four different crash impacts regarding total deformation and von-Mises stress, and (b) 1:1 models of the three concepts were used by experienced riders to assess possible usability issues during helmet placement/removal. Results of the two-phase evaluation of the three concepts and design issues for further development of them are discussed.