Researchers develop a revolutionary 3D printed bike helmet that contracts to minimize head injury risks during accidents.
A 3D printed bicycle bridge from Rensselaer InstituteResearchers have created the world’s first 3D printed bike helmet that collapses and expands to protect you better in an accident Could revolutionize cyclist safety.
Almost like a car, the new helmet can be designed using a custom-made geometric pattern that absorbs impact, like a crumple zone. This new design actively absorbs shock in a collision by changing its shape, unlike other standard foam-lined helmets.
Lead researcher Mohsen Mirkhalaf explained that the helmet’s inner layer contracts when exposed to impact energy, significantly reducing the force transmitted to a cyclist’s head. The team used computer simulations to optimize the helmet’s geometric configuration, ultimately creating a prototype using a hyperelastic polymer.
Comparative tests against traditional foam helmets showed the 3D printed version offers enhanced protection. Additionally, the new design provides additional benefits: it’s lighter and can be customized to fit individual riders’ head shapes.
Of course, 3D printing technology today is too expensive for the helmet to compete with mass-produced counterparts, but researchers are hopeful that will change in the future. Mirkhalaf proposes as technology develops, helmets could be printed in situations specially designed for each person.
