INE IAPS · Project

Smart Airbag System Built Into Motorcycle Clothing That Learns and Improves Over Time

transportMarket-readyTRL 8

Imagine your motorcycle jacket could sense a crash coming and inflate like a car airbag — but sewn right into the fabric. That's what In&motion built: a system of tiny sensors and a smartphone connection that reads your riding in real time, learns your style, and triggers protection in milliseconds. It already proved itself with ski athletes and the International Ski Federation, and now it's been adapted for motorcyclists with 500 real riders testing it on the road.

By the numbers

500

Beta-testers equipped with complete airbag packages for live testing

Partner in consortium (single SME, In&motion)

100%

Industry ratio in consortium

Total project deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Motorcyclists face a fatality and serious injury risk that current body protection devices fail to adequately address — they lack the reaction speed and coverage area needed to protect riders effectively. Meanwhile, motorcycle apparel manufacturers sell essentially passive clothing with no intelligent safety features, missing an opportunity to differentiate in a market facing tightening European safety regulations.

The solution

What was built

An intelligent wearable airbag system with sensors, wireless smartphone connectivity, and real-time crash detection that integrates directly into motorcycle clothing. The system includes auto-learning capability that improves with use, and user-reactivatable deployment via consumable parts. A community of 500 beta-testers was equipped with complete airbag packages for live road testing.

Audience

Who needs this

European motorcycle clothing manufacturers seeking smart safety integrationPPE companies expanding into wearable active protection for work-at-heightElderly care tech companies developing fall-protection wearablesDrone manufacturers needing crash-protection systemsWinter sports equipment brands wanting electronic airbag technology

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Motorcycle apparel manufacturing

mid-size

Target: European motorcycle clothing brands looking to differentiate with smart safety features

If you are a motorcycle garment manufacturer dealing with commoditized product lines and growing safety regulation pressure — this project developed a fully integrated electronic airbag system that embeds directly into your existing clothing designs. The B2B model means you don't build the tech yourself; you license and integrate it. First 500 users have already been equipped with complete airbag packages for live testing.

Occupational safety equipment

any

Target: Manufacturers of personal protective equipment for work-at-height and industrial environments

If you are a PPE manufacturer dealing with workplace fall injuries and increasingly strict safety regulations — this project developed a wearable active protection system with auto-learning capability and user-reactivatable deployment. The technology is sensor-based, fully electronic, and already validated in extreme sports. It could be adapted into harnesses and workwear for construction, utilities, and warehouse workers.

Elderly care and assisted living

SME

Target: Companies developing wearable health and safety devices for seniors

If you are a health-tech company dealing with fall-related injuries among elderly populations — this project developed a wearable protection system with real-time analysis and auto-learning that adapts to the user's movement patterns. The reactivatable design with easy-to-handle consumable parts makes it practical for daily use. The team has explicitly identified senior health and well-being as a target expansion area.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to integrate this airbag technology into our product line?

The project data does not disclose specific licensing fees or per-unit costs. The B2B model is designed so garment manufacturers integrate the technology into their clothing lines, suggesting a licensing or component-supply arrangement. Contact the coordinator for pricing details.

Can this scale to industrial production volumes?

The system has been tested with 500 real users equipped with complete airbag packages, demonstrating production-scale manufacturing capability. The B2B approach with multiple European motorcycling garment manufacturers further confirms the technology is designed for volume integration, not one-off prototypes.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

In&motion is the sole partner and a private commercial entity (SME), meaning IP is concentrated in one company. The B2B business model explicitly involves partnering with garment manufacturers, so licensing or integration agreements are the intended commercialization path. Contact In&motion directly for licensing terms.

Has this been validated by any independent body?

The technology has been acclaimed by ski athletes and the International Ski Federation, providing independent validation from a major sports governing body. Additionally, 500 beta-testers were equipped for live road testing, generating real-world performance data.

How long would integration into our existing product take?

Based on available project data, the technology is designed for full integration into existing clothing lines, suggesting the system is modular and integration-ready. The project ran for 24 months (2016-2018) and achieved live user deployment, indicating a mature integration process. Specific timelines would depend on your product design.

Does the user need technical knowledge to operate or reset the device?

The system uses easy-to-handle consumable parts that allow the user to reactivate the device after deployment without professional help. This is a key differentiator — competing products typically require factory servicing after a single activation, adding cost and downtime.

What markets beyond motorcycling could this address?

The project objective explicitly identifies drone protection, senior health and well-being, and work at height as target expansion areas. The core sensor and real-time analysis platform is sector-agnostic, with skiing already proven as a validated use case.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project — In&motion, a French SME, is the sole partner with 100% industry composition. This is typical for SME Instrument Phase 2 projects, which fund individual companies to scale their innovations. The upside for potential partners: you deal directly with the technology owner, no complex multi-party negotiations. The IP and decision-making sit in one place. In&motion operates as a private commercial entity focused on commercialization, not a research lab still figuring out basic science.

IN&MOTIONCoordinator · FR

How to reach the team

In&motion is a French SME — check inemotion.com for commercial partnership inquiries

Order a report on this consortium See IN&MOTION profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the In&motion team to discuss integration or licensing? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right people.

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