In&motion airbag waistcoat: A useful safety feature? Decathlon's airbag waistcoat for commuters

The partnership between the multisport brand Decathlon and the French technology company In&motion makes electronic airbag systems accessible to a wider audience. In&motion has been developing wearable protection systems since 2014 and claims to have already delivered over 120,000 systems worldwide. The collaboration is intended to democratise safety technology, which was previously mainly found in niche markets with high prices.

Electronic control and response time

The In&box is the central element of the protection system. The electronic unit carries out 1000 analyses per second and measures movements in real time. If a fall is detected, the system activates the airbag within 60 milliseconds. The airbag protects the abdomen, chest, neck and spine from mechanical impact.

The predictive algorithms were trained with driving data from over 450 million kilometres. According to In&motion CEO Rémi Thomas, training data from professional and amateur athletes is used for further development. The Annecy-based company is the market leader in portable electronic airbag systems and is particularly well established in the motorbike segment.

For cyclists and riders

Decathlon has redeveloped the components of the waistcoat. The design teams focussed on freedom of movement and comfort. Two versions will be launched on the market: an airbag waistcoat for riding and a version for urban mobility. The second version is aimed at commuters travelling by bike or e-scooter.

Btwin airbag waistcoat: price & availability

The airbag waistcoat is available from Decathlon for 299.99 euros. After purchase, the waistcoat must be supplemented with the electronic sensor and control unit In&box and activated before it can be used. The Inbox can be rented separately via In&motion (from 120 euros per year) or purchased at a price of 400 euros.

The special gas cartridges for changing are also available separately from the In&motion shop, but Decathlon also wants to put them on the shelves. The companies are also planning further product developments for various sports. The first two waistcoats mark the start of a more comprehensive product range.

Short & sweet

• Manufacturer: Decathlon and In&motion
• Product: Airbag waistcoat with electronic control
• Technology: artificial intelligence, predictive algorithms
• Analyses: 1000 per second
• Response time: 60 milliseconds
• Training data: over 450 million kilometres driven
• Protection area: abdomen, chest, neck, spine
• Variants: Equestrian (double certification), urban mobility
• Price waistcoat: 299,99 Euro
• Control unit: In&box (available separately via In&motion)