Class design project- motorcycle airbag jacket

[tannim111]

Hello everyone. I'm doing a project for my product design class and my team is working on an enhancement of the Hit-Air inflatable airbag jacket. I don't ride myself, but one of my friends pointed me here - he said the posters here tend to know their stuff. Part of our project is to do a user-input survey to feed into the design process.

Anyway, I realize that a lot of people see it as an unrealistic idea, but I'm hoping you'll be willing to help me out anyway by posting responses to the survey in this thread.

Thanks to everyone who helps out - I really appreciate it.


Tannim111

Survey:

1. Have you worn an airbag jacket?

1a. If yes, please describe the 3 main advantages and 3 main disadvantages you found?

1b. If no, would you be interested in trying/buying one? Why/why not?

2. What would be the two most important aspects to you?
Convenient to wear
Easily Reusable
Reliable jacket brand
Lightweight
Aesthetics
Other(s), please specify:

3. For any jacket with which you are familiar, what are the main disadvantages?

4. What features/characteristics would you most like to see?

5. What kind of injuries have you had to deal with as a rider? Would an airbag jacket have helped?

6. Please rate the importance of freedom of movement vs protection for arms/shoulders (once an airbag has activated).
1 = Freedom of movement is paramount
5 = Protection is most important, even if you can't move

7. What range of premium would you be willing to pay (over and above the cost of a standard bike jacket)?
$0–$50 || $50–$100 || $100-$150 || $150 or more

8. Would you rather buy from a new manufacturer, or from an existing one (Yamaha, etc)?

9. Any other comments you have which don't fit anywhere else. (no flames, please, we're just trying to do well in this class)

[pushrod]

Originally Posted by tannim111

Hello everyone. I'm doing a project for my product design class and my team is working on an enhancement of the Hit-Air inflatable airbag jacket. I don't ride myself, but one of my friends pointed me here - he said the posters here tend to know their stuff. Part of our project is to do a user-input survey to feed into the design process.

Anyway, I realize that a lot of people see it as an unrealistic idea, but I'm hoping you'll be willing to help me out anyway by posting responses to the survey in this thread.

Thanks to everyone who helps out - I really appreciate it.


Tannim111

Survey:

1. Have you worn an airbag jacket?

No. I've never seen one.

1a. If yes, please describe the 3 main advantages and 3 main disadvantages you found?

1b. If no, would you be interested in trying/buying one? Why/why not?

I would need to be convinced of its efficacy, and whether I could afford it.

2. What would be the two most important aspects to you?
Convenient to wear (2)
Easily Reusable
Reliable jacket brand
Lightweight
Aesthetics
Other(s), please specify: (1) That is would be reliable and effective.
(3) Reasonable price.

3. For any jacket with which you are familiar, what are the main disadvantages?

I've never seen an airbag jacket. 'Regular' armored motorcycle jackets seem to work okay.

4. What features/characteristics would you most like to see?

Comfortable, washable (at least the 'harness') and includes a sender that makes your cellphone call 911 when the airbag deploys.

5. What kind of injuries have you had to deal with as a rider? Would an airbag jacket have helped?

Head-on with an idiot driving a Subaru. I was extremely lucky. Well, other than having the wreck, that is. An airbag jacket would not have prevented my injury, and may have made things worse.

6. Please rate the importance of freedom of movement vs protection for arms/shoulders (once an airbag has activated).
1 = Freedom of movement is paramount
5 = Protection is most important, even if you can't move.

I'll go with a 4.

7. What range of premium would you be willing to pay (over and above the cost of a standard bike jacket)?
$0–$50 || $50–$100 || $100-$150 || $150 or more

$100 - $200

8. Would you rather buy from a new manufacturer, or from an existing one (Yamaha, etc)?

I would prefer an established brand.

9. Any other comments you have which don't fit anywhere else. (no flames, please, we're just trying to do well in this class)

You have a tough task ahead! People ride motorcycles for the freedom. You build them a suit of armor, they will stay away like you threatened them with cooties! It's hard enough to get folks to wear helmets, let alone armor or an airbag.

Good luck!

[seruzawa]

I'm not going to help you. If you successfully make one then the govt will eventually force everyone to wear one.

Few things are more dangerous than a college student. They know just enough to cause trouble. Not enough to fix it.

[longride]

" I don't ride myself,..."

Then go away.

[Kenneth_Moore]

Klazy Ken already have airbag solution. You buy at my seminar. Come with "Airhead" helmet.

[SmokeU]

If you want an airbag buy a car or a Goldwing.

[sarnali2]

Originally Posted by longride

" I don't ride myself,..."

Then go away.

Ditto, find another demographic to save please.