University of Michigan Research into Safer Football Helmet
Always at the forefront of impactful engineering, here is another reason to be proud of our University. I don't see this technology addressing the issue of sudden change of direction, but it makes sense for head collisions and may help save football from circling the drain in decades to come.
http://record.umich.edu/articles/coe-researchers-working-football-helme…
February 8th, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^
Not like the sheet metal boats I learned to drive on in the mid 80's
Go to www.vicis.co to see some great new technology on future helmets. It's NFL endorsed so to make up for all of the shade The Commissioner has been (justifiably) catching he can make good by paying for these for youth leagues, high schools, and colleges across the country then drop the mike at his retirement announcement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bMOMf3S_EA
Rookie video imbedded sorry. This helmet makes perfect sense.
February 8th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
Well-played, OP. Well-played.
February 8th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
Good stuff...ultimately football will have to be modified in ways to reduce chances for head impact. Equipment can only do so much versus inertia and mass.
February 8th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
I am not sure what else they can do. Of course, I am no scientist.
February 8th, 2016 at 10:19 AM ^
won't evolution do this for us?
all we need to do is repeatedly bash each others heads, duh.
February 8th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
We'll definitely have to get less intelligent if we want to survive.
Kurt Vonnegut's Galápagos (1985)
February 8th, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
Since you are no scientist, you'd make a perfect republican comentator on science issues, or a cabinet member on, say science, for a republican administration!
February 8th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
The government is covering up the existence of aliens. It's to hide their technology they have and sell oil. I'm not sure Barack and Michael even know. Watch Sirius documentary with dr. Grier. He is a scientist therefore all knowing.
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February 8th, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^
Who is Michael? Jordan?
February 8th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
You must be new here
February 8th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
No you must be new here
February 8th, 2016 at 5:50 PM ^
They could share the project with the University of Minnesota and seek big research bucks from the Minneapolis based Target Corporation....
February 8th, 2016 at 10:26 AM ^
Why not make the outer shell of the helmet with a softer material like a bicycle helmet? It would absorb more of the impact; it could make it less of an incentive to spear an opponent if the impact is less jarring. A softer helmet would make it more of a protective item than a weapon.
February 8th, 2016 at 10:34 AM ^
They mention in the video, it's impractical to make it like a bike helmet. They are made to absorb impact by permanently deforming. Can't do that with football. Everyone would need a new helmet every play.
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February 8th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
You can do that with a foam that is engineered to do so. Bike helmets are one use because they want it to be super light as well. You can make a heavier foam that will return to form after impact, but cycling doesn't need that.
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February 8th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
Why dont they just make the whole plane out of the black box material?
February 8th, 2016 at 11:40 PM ^
Science Bitch!
February 8th, 2016 at 12:36 PM ^
Make the helmet able to absorb more wouldn't change a thing. Your brain is still moving inside your skull when it comes to an abrubt stop.
February 8th, 2016 at 7:52 PM ^
Helmets shells are much softer than the were 10 years ago. The Riddell Speed Flex even has a portion on the crown of the helmet tat flexes to deflect impact.
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February 8th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
Football will be banned before they wear a safer helmet. There are a lot of do gooders (many at the U of MI in the Admin, who teach and students) who would love nothing more than to see the game get banned because of its violence and preception that it causes men to abuse women. The move is on and it will get congressional attention within the next decade.
February 8th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^
Go blow something
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February 8th, 2016 at 11:38 AM ^
You're saying that those in power will never approve a safer helmet because they want to see more people's lives get destroyed with as many head injuries as possible so that they can have more ammo to ban the sport?
seems legit
Also....go fuck yourself.
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February 8th, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^
And this looks dumb because the comment responded to has been deleted (rightfully so)
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February 8th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
Sounds like the macguffin in some swords and sorcery adventure novel.
Otherwise, the leaders and best are at it again... Good work nerds!
February 8th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
Of course. Leaders and best.
February 8th, 2016 at 12:51 PM ^
An interesting side concussion note: UM researchers are developing a more accurate sensor that will be affixed to a tooth. The sensors that are used now are on either helmets or skin, both of which are movable things. Teeth are fixed to the skull and will provide more accurate data.
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February 8th, 2016 at 3:18 PM ^
Put everyone in a bubble, with just arms and legs sticking out!!! That would be very entertaining!!!
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February 8th, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^
good to see our University at the forefront of this research!
February 8th, 2016 at 4:43 PM ^
for testing?
they're expendable.
February 8th, 2016 at 7:50 PM ^
I've always been fascinated that the NFL doesn't require players to wear the best helmets or let alone mouth pieces
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February 8th, 2016 at 10:38 PM ^
Hillman had the best mouth piece in the history of the freakin universe!
February 10th, 2016 at 10:04 PM ^
Virginia Tech has a rating of current helmets:
http://www.beam.vt.edu/helmet/index.php
All interesting stuff, but until we stop the brain from stopping too quickly, then its all really just abrasion protection.