Side Thrusters Being Tested to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents

German manufacturer Bosch thinks that the use of jet thrusters could prevent motorcycle accidents caused when wheels start losing grip on the road surface. The anti-slip technology is still in the research phase, but its goal is to address situations where tires make contact with wet leaves, oil spills, gravel or other loose-traction surface conditions and begin to slip sideways because they cannot apply sufficient lateral force in a curve. The feature would add an additional external lateral force to keep the motorcycle more upright and on track, reducing the risk of a fall. During the detected slip situations, gas is quickly released from an small accumulator, similar to the inflation of passenger-car airbags. The gas is routed into the appropriate side’s tank and is then vented in a certain direction through a nozzle. Watch a prototype at work below.