6D and Dynamic Research Win $500k Head Health Challenge III Prize
Over the last few years there has been a dramatic upturn in the number of helmets equipped with new technology that's designed to reduce the risk of a concussion and to deal with the rotational forces that occur during a crash. Not all of the new technology has been independently verified, but that's beginning to change as new testing protocols emerge.
We reviewed 6D's ATB-1T helmet in 2016, and since that time the company has continued to work on their Omni-Directional Suspension technology. They were recently awarded the Head Health Challenge's $500,000 grand prize for their efforts, after having their technology evaluated by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Read on for the full details in the press release below.
Press Release
With traumatic brain injury and concussions becoming a growing concern among amateur and professional athletes, the NFL and GE have collaborated with Under Armour and NIST and created the four-year, $60 million Head Health Initiative. Today, they announced awarding 6D Helmets and Dynamic Research the Head Health Challenge III’s $500,000 grand prize for their work with 6D’s proprietary Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS) technology.
“We’re thrilled to be named the winners of the Head Health Challenge III along with our project partners Dynamic Research Inc.,” said Bob Weber, CEO and co-founder of 6D Helmets LLC. “Together we worked to further develop Omni-Directional Suspension for application into multi-impact helmets. This award allows us to continue to refine our system for future helmet applications.”
Supported by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Football League (NFL), GE, and Under Armour, the Head Health Challenge III’s mission is to spur the discovery, design, and development of advanced materials to better absorb or mitigate forces within helmets, pads, and other products used by athletes, first responders, military personnel, and others who face potential head impact injuries.
“The goal of this challenge is to support innovation and help stimulate the marketplace with next-generation materials and design, and the impressive work by Dynamic Research and 6D Helmets has the potential to do just that,” said Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of Health and Safety Initiatives.
The Head Health Challenge III kicked off in early 2015 and attracted applications from more than 125 diverse companies and academic institutions. An independent panel of expert judges narrowed the list down to five finalists, and each were awarded $250,000 and a year of development time to enhance their materials while competing for the grand prize.
The Omni-Directional Suspension technology was originally developed by 6D beginning in 2011 and was sold commercially in its 2013 bicycle and motorcycle helmet lines. During the Head Health Challenge, 6D and Dynamic Research used advanced computer modeling, finite element analysis, and a series of iterative improvements to create a novel derivative of 6D’s ODS technology with an unusual geometric structure. The judges award decision was based on the new multi-impact material systems’ performance, potential commercial application and novel design. It reduced certain measures of impact by more than 70 percent when compared with baseline foam material commonly used in protective gear.
![6D Helmet]()
“The Challenge allowed us to exercise material testing and analysis that further unlocked the potential of our ODS technology,” said Robert Reisinger, director of engineering and co-founder of 6D Helmets. “Over the course of the challenge, we gained a greater understanding of its capabilities by individually tuning for both linear and rotational forces to reduce brain injuring accelerations. Some of these new features are already supported in our latest product offerings.”
While testing ODS during the competition, 6D developed a more efficient and lighter version for use in its bicycle helmets. The company swiftly implemented the new design into its ATB-1T EVO Trail helmet, which has been available through its network of retail partners and specialty bike shops since March of this year.
![6D]()
NIST established a dedicated testing facility for the competition to provide a common measure of the materials’ performance. Each team submitted refined materials to NIST for testing at several points during the year, and NIST test data was provided back to them as feedback to modify their materials toward improved performance.
“The testing data collected by NIST researchers using this new measurement platform also helped the judges to fairly evaluate the diverse materials concepts developed by the finalists,” said Michael Fasolka, deputy director of the NIST Material Measurement Lab.
“I want to thank the NFL, GE, Under Armour, and NIST for sponsoring this challenge, and driving research,” concluded Weber. “The $500,00 grand prize, which we share with Dynamic Research, will allow us both, and the industry as a whole, to move further in a positive direction to improve helmet performance and brain protection.”
For more information about the GE-NFL Head Health Initiative and Head Health Challenges, visit PlaySmartPlaySafe.com.
For more information about 6D Helmets and its products, go to 6dhelmets.com.
We reviewed 6D's ATB-1T helmet in 2016, and since that time the company has continued to work on their Omni-Directional Suspension technology. They were recently awarded the Head Health Challenge's $500,000 grand prize for their efforts, after having their technology evaluated by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Read on for the full details in the press release below.
Press Release
With traumatic brain injury and concussions becoming a growing concern among amateur and professional athletes, the NFL and GE have collaborated with Under Armour and NIST and created the four-year, $60 million Head Health Initiative. Today, they announced awarding 6D Helmets and Dynamic Research the Head Health Challenge III’s $500,000 grand prize for their work with 6D’s proprietary Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS) technology.
“We’re thrilled to be named the winners of the Head Health Challenge III along with our project partners Dynamic Research Inc.,” said Bob Weber, CEO and co-founder of 6D Helmets LLC. “Together we worked to further develop Omni-Directional Suspension for application into multi-impact helmets. This award allows us to continue to refine our system for future helmet applications.”
Supported by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Football League (NFL), GE, and Under Armour, the Head Health Challenge III’s mission is to spur the discovery, design, and development of advanced materials to better absorb or mitigate forces within helmets, pads, and other products used by athletes, first responders, military personnel, and others who face potential head impact injuries.
“The goal of this challenge is to support innovation and help stimulate the marketplace with next-generation materials and design, and the impressive work by Dynamic Research and 6D Helmets has the potential to do just that,” said Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of Health and Safety Initiatives.
The Head Health Challenge III kicked off in early 2015 and attracted applications from more than 125 diverse companies and academic institutions. An independent panel of expert judges narrowed the list down to five finalists, and each were awarded $250,000 and a year of development time to enhance their materials while competing for the grand prize.
The Omni-Directional Suspension technology was originally developed by 6D beginning in 2011 and was sold commercially in its 2013 bicycle and motorcycle helmet lines. During the Head Health Challenge, 6D and Dynamic Research used advanced computer modeling, finite element analysis, and a series of iterative improvements to create a novel derivative of 6D’s ODS technology with an unusual geometric structure. The judges award decision was based on the new multi-impact material systems’ performance, potential commercial application and novel design. It reduced certain measures of impact by more than 70 percent when compared with baseline foam material commonly used in protective gear.
“The Challenge allowed us to exercise material testing and analysis that further unlocked the potential of our ODS technology,” said Robert Reisinger, director of engineering and co-founder of 6D Helmets. “Over the course of the challenge, we gained a greater understanding of its capabilities by individually tuning for both linear and rotational forces to reduce brain injuring accelerations. Some of these new features are already supported in our latest product offerings.”
While testing ODS during the competition, 6D developed a more efficient and lighter version for use in its bicycle helmets. The company swiftly implemented the new design into its ATB-1T EVO Trail helmet, which has been available through its network of retail partners and specialty bike shops since March of this year.
6D's Omni-Directional Suspension uses a rubber damper that sits between two layers of EPS foam.
NIST established a dedicated testing facility for the competition to provide a common measure of the materials’ performance. Each team submitted refined materials to NIST for testing at several points during the year, and NIST test data was provided back to them as feedback to modify their materials toward improved performance.
“The testing data collected by NIST researchers using this new measurement platform also helped the judges to fairly evaluate the diverse materials concepts developed by the finalists,” said Michael Fasolka, deputy director of the NIST Material Measurement Lab.
“I want to thank the NFL, GE, Under Armour, and NIST for sponsoring this challenge, and driving research,” concluded Weber. “The $500,00 grand prize, which we share with Dynamic Research, will allow us both, and the industry as a whole, to move further in a positive direction to improve helmet performance and brain protection.”
For more information about the GE-NFL Head Health Initiative and Head Health Challenges, visit PlaySmartPlaySafe.com.
For more information about 6D Helmets and its products, go to 6dhelmets.com.
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www.singletracks.com/blog/uncategorized/the-long-road-back-from-a-traumatic-brain-injury-part-1
MIPS seems to just release plots with no numbers on the axis, I don't trust plots without numbered axis.
So, right now, Kali and 6D seem to be the best choices based on data (albeit there is a small amount, but enough to show their claims are not baseless).
Safety technology in this sport is hilariously primitive, and very few companies post their testing methodologies. POC generally does.
IMO more companies need to start using the standards that motorcycle gear use (can't remember the name of the organization responsible for the standard). Their standards are not perfect, generally requiring a low standard of impact absorption, but it's better than nothing.
But hey, just try and shoot down my argument with your own lack of data.
Kick the Can = Affordable
now we're talkin!
a) use to offset costs of R&D and production making the product more affordable,
b) book as a windfall profit.
You can get a basic Jap bike for $2k if you want, whereas good gear can easily run you $1.5k. Most people settle for the Cycle Gear generic brand stuff and say more or less what you just said. Then they crash and have their tendons ablated off, leaving more meat on the highway than your average road kill.
If you think for a minute about how bad it would be to lose a knee or a pint of blood, even with a low chance of happening it's worth a large sum to avoid.
$250? #worthit