The document proposes adding airbags to motorcycles to improve rider safety. It notes that 45% of two-wheeler accidents result in death, compared to car accidents where airbags help protect occupants. The proposed design would place an airbag on the fuel tank that deploys upon frontal impacts, cushioning the rider. A mechanical linkage connected to the front shock absorber would detect impacts and trigger gas generation to rapidly inflate the airbag between the rider and handlebars. Side impacts could also potentially be addressed by linkages that deploy side wheels for stability. The goal is to provide two-wheeler riders similar protective benefits as car airbags.

1. AIRBAGS IN
TWO
WHELERS
THE GOOGLE
SCIENCE FAIR

2. Normally most deaths take place by accidents . About 70% of
death is road accidents. In that 45% is two wheeler accidents. Few
years back I saw an accident where the two wheeler hits with a car
heavily . Car’s rider escaped because of air bag but the two
wheeler’s rider had died .So I planned to take this project.
Road accidents
Railways accidents
Seaways accidents
Airways accidents
Natural disasteres
Others

3. I am Master M.OHM ASHWIN studying Class VIII in The
Ashok Leyland School at Hosur, TamilNadu, INDIA.
I always aspire for doing and achieving something which
bring credits to me.
Last month I had participated in VIT-INNOVIT competition
in Vellore, TamilNadu and presented my project report on
Hovercraft vehicle design and working concept which had
won an award for me and which had encouraged me in
doing a lot more similar excises or experiments of
Innovative in nature and useful for the public .
In the same line now I have thought of a project “Airbags – Safety
protection of two wheelers” which according to me is going to be a
very interesting and futuristic project.

4. The question comes to my mind is proving totally
successful considering rider and pillion rider
convenience, economy, fail safe system etc.,
An airbag is vehicle safety device which is occupant
restraint consisting of a flexible envelope design to get
inflated in no time (rapidly) during any automobile
collision. This balloon like airbag is to prevent the driver
and occupants already restrained with seatbelts from
striking interior objects such as driving
wheel, window, dash board etc.,

5. Suitable sensors are deployed in
the car with one or two or more
airbags locating in the Impact
Zone with variable rate depending
on the severity of impact. The
existing designs seem to be
inflated thro’ Pyrotechnic means
and can be operated only once.
Extending the concept of four
wheeler to a two wheeler the basic
idea has been formed by me.

6. The automobile Industry started the airbag research in
the late 1950 and soon discovered that there were many
difficulties in design, location, accommodation, actuation
etc., etc.,
Crash tests conducted showed that
1) an airbag will be useful as a PROTECTIVE
DEVICE, provided that the airbag must deploy and
inflate within 40 milliseconds (really a fraction of a
second)
2) The system considered must detect the difference
between a severe crash or a minor fender-bender.
Hence the first component of airbag system is
development of suitable SENSOR (with fast reaction
time)that can detect “head-on Collision” and
immediately trigger the airbags deployment.

7. Concept development :
 One of the simple design for the crash
sensor could be a steel ball that slides
inside a smooth bore or a fine finished
plunger sliding effortlessly in a fine bore
cylinder.
 The ball or the plunger will be held in
position by a stiff spring located at suitable
place which inhibits the ball’s (plunger’s)
motion when the vehicle rides over a bump
or a pot hole.

8. However when there is a crash or head on collision
involving the vehicle front (say bumper , tyre/wheel
etc) then there will be a deceleration (sudden
reduction in the velocity / speed of the vehicle ) but
the impact makes the ball / plunger moves forward
and actuates an electric circuit or mechanical linkage
with maximum advantage or release the valve port in
the compressed pit air accumulator or a gas generator
which burns the liquid fuel or may be solid fuel to
produce large volume of cooler gas (should not
increase the temperature more) to inflate the airbag
immediately. In many cars, gas generators use a small
quantity of ‘PYROTECHNIC CHARGE’ will be
used to open a valve which in turn begins the gas
generation process. Some gas generators use
hydrogen peroxide for similar application.

9. Similarity of Technique for two
wheelers :
The prevailing motor bike design have very
little scope to accommodate gas generator
etc., but for a suitable simple mechanical linkage
system tagged on to the existing elements of the
bike which reads the pulse of the Impact.
The general observation in Two wheeler head
on collision :
The pillion rider is thrown out if he or she is not
holding the side mounted hand holders/brackets
firmly.

10. The Rider gets hurt by the impact on the
handlebars or hitting against the dashed
objects in the gap between the handle bar.
Provide an air bag to get inflated wherever there is a head
on collision involving the front wheel dashing against the
vehicle / object / tyre in the front. This bag will be placed
over the fuel tank only where at present simple service
bag or carry bag kind is placed on the petrol / fuel tank
fully on the flat condition.

14. What happens if the Driver / Rider looses
the balance or whenever there is a side
impact by another vehicle?
How these side wheels help?

17. Component
Transfer Linkage
Front
Impact in Shock
Wheel
Force on shock absorber
absorber
Actuates the
accumulator /
gas generator
Protects Air bag Air
the rider inflates reservoir
Air release
In-between
handlebar

18. Pushes down the side- Lateral stability is
Linkage in the shock
wheels to rest on the maintained in the
absorber
ground vehicle