Dakar 2021: airbag obligation, Helite highlighted with a system designed for off-road

Dakar Rally, a name and a challenge for many pilots who love adventure. Thousands of kilometers traveled in the most demanding conditions on board cars, trucks, motorbikes and even using quads. Unfortunately, there has been no shortage of accidents in the past. Thinking about safety and how to further strengthen it, especially for the most exposed pilots, the organization of the Dakar has made an airbag device is mandatory for those who face the challenge of riding a motorbike or a quad equipped with a loaded cartridge and have a spare with you. Among the brands, helite figure among the protagonists for the high protection and also for the simplicity and cheapness of restoring the device, according to the information.

The Helite solution

Considering the experience in the sector, helite has developed a new Off Road airbag in collaboration with the Italian protection brand UFO, a reality already known by off-road enthusiasts. The first version was shown during the Andalusia Rally last October and in the days leading up to Dakar Rally Testing continued, thanks to around ten testers. A functional refinement for most of the participants. About half of the motorcycle and quad riders registered for the Dakar in Saudi Arabia, 129 pilots at the time the release was made, pre-ordered the Helite system based on the information.
In essence, an airbag vest that uses sensors capable of distinguishing the pilot's normal movements from those of an accident or a fall and a specific algorithm, set to read these movements, developed by the CDU (crash detection unit) card, i.e. a compact and integrated unit that can analyze the pilot's movements in real time. Accelerometer, gyroscope and GPS constantly interact with each other via the CDU and, if a movement considered anomalous or essentially an accident is detected, the airbag inflates in 50 milliseconds protecting the pilot. The protection volume is 18 liters, a value considered ideal to guarantee adequate protection while keeping in mind the practicality of movements. The rigid protectors designed by UFO, with a high quality back protector (SAS-TEC level 2) are located on the outside of the airbag to provide additional protection in the event of an impact. The result is a "Turtle" or "turtle shell" effect, one of the cornerstones of Helite design, together with the large air volume and "the speed, ease and cost of restoration", always considering the indications.
mechanical o electronic, Helite airbags have the largest volume of protection on the market ranging from 17 to 28 liters and have a special shape designed to envelop and protect the vital parts, as indicated. For the 2021 Dakar the Helite team has developed the first "Off Road" airbag vest, a specific system designed to meet the needs of this commitment.

Image: Airbag Professional®