Riding helmet developed by KTH reaches the market
15 years of research at KTH and Karolinska Institutet lie behind the so-called MIPS helmet. We are now expecting the riding helmet to be released to consumers, something the equine industry is very excited about.
MIPS technology is a Swedish innovation which provides considerably improved protection for the head and the brain compared to traditional helmets; it is the outcome of 15 years of research at KTH and Karolinska Institutet.
“A normal helmet is designed to protect you from direct blows and impacts, but far from all blows are direct. MIPS helmets can also reduce forces from blows and lateral impacts and absorb the rotational energy which arises, which the brain is very sensitive to,” says Peter Halldin, a researcher in biomechanics at KTH and one of the researchers involved in the development of MIPS technology.
Following different types of problems which have now been resolved, the helmets will now be on sale in the shops. This is extremely positive because the interest and commitment regarding safety in equestrian sport has increased significantly over the past few years.
But not only horse riders will be pleased, the technology is also available for most types of helmets and will be licensed out to helmet manufacturers. Hockey and motorcycle helmets are two areas.
“Our objective is that MIPS will become a safety standard,” says Peter Halldin.
The launch of the MIPS helmet will take place in the Scandinavian countries and in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
For more information, contact Peter Halldin, at peterh@kth.se or 0739-85 00 61.
Peter Larsson