Being on two wheels, motorcycles face far greater risks. One of these risks is sliding. Sliding happens when wheels begin to slip sideways on slippy or loose surfaces such as those created by wet leaves, oil spills, or gravels. In such surface, slipping is inevitable, but not if Bosch can help it. In a research project, the German tech giant has proposed a slid mitigation system to apply additional external lateral force to counter the slip, thus potentially minimizing the risk of a fall.
The system uses a combination of sensor and a gas accumulator – like the type used in airbags found in automobile – to achieve this. When the sensor detects side way wheel slip, it determines if a certain threshold have been breached and if it did, gas flows into a tank adapter to be vented out through a nozzle in a certain direction. As one may have imagined, this reverse thrust serves to help a two-wheeler on track and not continue to fall sideways due to the slip.
There is a catch though; this potentially life-saving tech is one-time use. This means it has to be replaced if the rider wants the system to continue to work for the rest of the journey. Now, here’s the thing. We do not know if the gas accumulator is user-replaceable and how quick can it be replaced. It will be cool if it can have a reserve or two, so it can be exploited on a long road trip. Then again, we do not wish to see riders taking safety for granted, thinking their ass will be saved every single time when side way slip occurs and as a result, corner without care.
But, as it seems, that is the future we are heading to. A future where technology will have our backs. It is human nature to take things for granted. It is a fine line to thread. Anyways, Slid Mitigation System is not the only safety tech Bosch has came up with. It also developed some radar-based assistance systems, including ACC adaptive cruise control, Collision warning system, as well as blind-spot recognition.
ACC adaptive cruise control will take the strain of maintaining the optimal distance from the vehicle to prevent rear-ending the preceding vehicle. Collision warning system, on the other hand, acoustically or optically warn rider of potential collision if another vehicle is dangerously close. Finally, the blind-spot recognition helps the rider to change lanes safety by looking out for vehicles that may be lurking at his/her blind spot. The blind-spot recognition is not new in automobiles, though; it has seen implementation in various makes of European rides, including Renault and Volvo.
Images: Bosch.
Bosch via Carscoops.
