If you are a professional or even a casual cyclist, you know the number of injuries that one big collision can cause. When a bicycle crashes, the most affected parts of the body are the shoulders, chest, and head. So, to help cyclists protect their upper body in the event of a collision, a company has developed a cool backpack that automatically turns into an airbag in less than a second in the event of a collision.
A regular-looking backpack called the Commute Air Pro 18 was developed by the US-based brand EVOC Sports. The company wanted to develop a simple and effective protection mechanism for cyclists. As a result, Commute Air Pro 18 looks and works like a regular backpack. However, it has a built-in motion sensor.
Therefore, when the user wears the backpack on his shoulder and closes the chest strap, the sensor is activated. They continue to monitor the motion activity of Commute Air Pro 18 approximately 1,100 times per second.
When the sensor detects extreme movement due to a collision or major collision, the backpack deploys an 18 liter inflated airbag in less than 0.2 seconds. The airbag wraps around the rider’s upper body and covers the shoulders, hands and neck.
According to the company, airbags “Reduces cyclist impact and braking acceleration (HIC: Head Injury Standard) by up to 80%.” In addition, if the airbag remains in one piece after a crash, it can be repacked into a backpack and the user can replace the igniter cartridge into a reusable backpack.
Besides safety features, the Commute Air Pro 18 is also a full-fledged backpack with ample storage space. Even if the airbag is inside, the user can also attach a laptop to it. In addition, there are several compact pockets that can hold a variety of electronic devices such as smartphones, earphones and smart glasses. A hip strap at the bottom helps to evenly distribute the weight of the backpack throughout the user’s body.
With the launch of the Commute Air Pro 18, EVOC Sport will be available on the market in the spring of 2022. The price is 900 euros (~ Rs.78,252). As you can imagine, you can get a decent bike for that price. However, high-tech safety devices usually require a large investment.
So if you’re a cyclist, would you buy the Commute Air Pro 18 in this price range? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.
