MEDIA SERVICES
Press Information – July 2011
TECH AIR RACE – AIRBAG LEATHER SUIT ACTIVE PROTECTION -‐ RACING / PERFORMANCE RIDING
SIZE: 46-‐56 EUR SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: €6000.00
Alpinestars Tech Air is an electronic, wireless, airbag protection system that offers state-‐of-‐the-‐art, active rider safety for track and road use. Ten years of ground-‐ breaking research and development, along with testing in MotoGP and World Superbikes has resulted in a compact, ultra-‐lightweight (450 g) and entirely self-‐ contained safety system that offers the most advanced rider protection possible. The Tech Air Airbag is exactly the same system that protects Alpinestars MotoGP athletes, complete with full diagnostic capabilities and patented Dual Charge System that allows a secondary airbag inflation without the need to recharge. The system features a powerful micro-‐processor, powered by an internal battery that is connected to an inflator module and housed within a compact, robust casing inside the aero hump of the suit. Two shoulder-‐mounted airbags, secured within internal pockets in the leather suit, are connected to the inflator module via polyurethane tubes.
Tech Air Airbag System – Technical Specification
• Alpinestars’ in-‐house developed micro-‐processor constantly monitors the rider’s movements while in motion via five sensors located on the arms, legs and processor housing within the suit.
• The Tech Air System features a switch on the master control unit which, when placed to ‘ON’, allows the sensing system to be brought into ‘active’ mode by a magnetic sensor that detects when the leather suit’s main closure is secured.
• The system automatically moves into ‘armed’ mode when the sensors detect that rider is seated on a motorcycle and moving at low speed. This prevents any chance of the airbags being deployed at times when protection is not required.
• A compact battery pack powers the Tech Air system and offers 8 hours duration in full ‘active’ and ‘armed’ mode; i.e. 8 hours riding time. In standby mode, when
the system is only ‘active’, the battery will retain charge for over several weeks. Recharging can be carried out through normal mains power using the connector at the top of the master control unit and is recommended after each day’s riding. Once the micro-‐processor is ‘active’ and sensing, it is sampling data from each of the five sensors every 2 milliseconds. In ‘armed’ mode, when the rider is moving at speed on a bike, the micro-‐processor samples the sensor data for any irregularities in rider movement or external forces acting upon the rider. These irregularities are defined by algorithms which Alpinestars has developed, and control the micro-‐processor commands. If these prediction parameters, in relation to what the algorithms define as a crash, are exceeded, the micro-‐processor will initiate the inflation of the airbags. Upon deployment, one of the two gas cylinders releases a cold, pressurized, Nitrogen-‐based gas mix with the aid of a small pyrotechnic charge that fully inflates both the airbags in 45 milliseconds, with a total discharged gas volume of 2.8 liters. Typically, the predictive performance of the Alpinestars Tech Air system protects the rider with fully inflated airbags at least 100 milliseconds before the first impact with the track/road surface. Once inflated, the airbags offer 5 seconds of full inflation protection to the rider before beginning to deflate. This ensures a prolonged, highly effective impact absorption barrier for both clavicles and shoulders during any fall the rider may suffer. The Tech Air Race leather suit has specifically engineered expansion zones to accommodate the airbags in their fully inflated state. (They remain completely contained within the leather suit). Once deflation commences, the airbags fully discharge within 20-‐25 seconds, allowing the leather suit to return to its normal fit and feel. If, having crashed on track, the rider is able to recover their bike and carry on riding; the Alpinestars Tech Air system resets itself within 60 seconds of the first crash and through its patented dual charge capability, offers the rider a second airbag inflation if required. This allows the rider to continue riding in complete confidence knowing they are fully protected.
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Page 2 Alpinestars Tech Air Race Leather Suit – Operational Features
• The Tech Air system requires no maintenance by the user and is delivered installed within the Alpinestars Tech Air Race leather suit. • The battery which powers the micro-‐processor and is installed in the aerodynamic hump on the back of the suit can be recharged in the same way as a mobile telephone.
• A series of LED’s on the left forearm of the suit informs the rider of the current status of the system and warns of low battery power, any sensor irregularity and the sensing status of the system, i.e. ‘active’ and/or ‘armed’. The display also informs the rider of the number of airbag charges remaining.
• A wireless diagnostic card, built into the micro-‐processor unit, grants access to a dedicated service website, giving the rider the ability to interrogate the system functions and ensure all operations are behaving normally.
• If the rider experiences any problems, or a system inflation occurs, the diagnostic function informs on the status of the Tech Air Race system and whether maintenance is required.
• A dedicated support team for users of the Tech Air Race system – the ‘Tech Air Support Team’ (TAST) – is based at Alpinestars European Headquarters in Italy. This team is directly contactable by users of the Tech Air race system.
• For all maintenance and repair needs, users can return their Tech Air Race Leather suit, with the Tech Air Airbag system still installed, to Alpinestars via their local Alpinestars dealer. All maintenance and repairs will be handled centrally by the Alpinestars TAST.
Alpinestars Tech Air Race Leather Suit – Technical Specifications • Constructed from premium 1.3mm full-‐grain leather for exceptional abrasion resistance and durability, with multiple-‐stitched main seams for maximum tear resistance and ultra-‐vented front panels for unsurpassed cooling while riding. • Integrated airbag pockets located on the inside of the suit work in combination with the external accordion expansion zones around the shoulder and clavicle to ensure complete, seamless inflation during airbag activation. • Aerodynamically sculpted back hump houses the Tech Air System micro-‐processor, battery pack and inflator module. • LED system status panel on the left forearm. • Magnetic system activation sensor on the main closure. • Exclusive ‘Tech-‐Air Airbag’ print on the rear accordion panel. • Access panel on the back hump allows access to the power connector and master switch on the control unit. • Elbow and arms feature a unique, seamless construction technique and PU external forearm protection for enhanced structural strength and abrasion resistance. • Alpinestars exclusive, patented, high modulus thermoplastic external shoulder protection combines with a unique external one-‐piece 90° TPU knee and tibia protection for improved protection and reduced drag. • A soft grip area on inner surface of the knee/leg protection improves contact with the bike and removable CE certified soft elbow, knee and tibia protectors ensure maximum impact dissipation and energy absorption in the event of a fall. • Superior impact protection to the torso provided by Alpinestars Tech Chest Guard which is supplied as standard. • Alpinestars CE level 2 certified Bionic Race back protector supplied as standard with a secure snap connection. • Patented 45° leather flex zones for improved fit and complete multi-‐directional flexibility while riding. • Stretch Kevlar panels reduce material resistance while enhancing comfort and fit. • Removable, washable, 100% anti-‐bacterial inner lining with strategically placed soft protection. • Soft neoprene comfort cuff and collar construction. • Alpinestars replaceable GP knee sliders.
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For further information, please contact: Jeremy Appleton – Media Services Alpinestars Inc. Viale Fermi, 5 31011 Asolo (TV) ITALY
(: +39 0423 5286 7: +39 0423 529571 *: mediaservice1@alpinestars.com : www.alpinestars.com