Safety on the Open Road: Architecture Revamp Improves Safety Device for Motorcyclists

Kickstarting a motorcycle and heading for the horizon brings riders a sense of freedom, adrenaline, and a close connection to the road as the wind whistles past them. Unfortunately, it also brings greater risk. Unprotected by the body of a car and harder for other road users to see, motorcycle riders are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries.

According to a 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) report on road safety, riders of motorcycles and similar vehicles such as scooters account for 21% of the 1.19 million road traffic deaths worldwide.

Racing on a track delivers freedom and adrenaline, but it also exposes motorcycle riders to a significantly higher risk of serious injuries.

Improving Motorcycle Safety as Two-Wheeled Vehicle Use Accelerates

With global vehicle usage set to increase rapidly and with a sharp rise expected in powered two- and three-wheeled vehicles—enhancing motorcycle safety has become a critical priority. Strengthening rider protection can play a decisive role in reducing road traffic fatalities, both on public roads and professional race tracks.

This challenge is already receiving global attention. In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched its first global technical advisory group dedicated to powered two- and three-wheeled vehicles, focusing on how legislation, public policy, regulation, and research can help prevent fatal motorcycle crashes.

At the same time, advances in safety technology are delivering tangible improvements for riders. Just as airbags have become a standard life-saving feature in cars, motorcycle riders can now benefit from wearable airbag technology—integrated into specially designed inflatable protective jackets that significantly enhance impact protection during accidents.

Next-Generation Motorcycle Safety Gear Powered by Smart Engineering

With the support of Akkodis experts, an Italian manufacturer specializing in protective equipment and technical apparel for dynamic sports embarked on the modernization of a critical motorcycle safety device.

The client already offered a motorcycle jacket with an integrated airbag system designed to inflate automatically during a crash or fall, providing enhanced protection for riders on both public roads and race tracks.

Working in close collaboration with the client, the Akkodis team defined an innovative end-to-end hardware and software architecture for a next-generation wearable safety device. The objective was to enhance usability, performance, and functional safety while seamlessly connecting the airbag jacket to a new-generation mobile application developed by Akkodis—unlocking smarter, more connected rider protection.

Improving architecture through a multidisciplinary approach

The project began with a full-scale review of the device’s existing setup and architecture, explains Annunziata Fiorilli, Team Manager and Design Quality & Product Assurance Delivery Unit Manager at Akkodis Italy.

We worked with a cross-functional team made up of electronics, digital, and functional safety experts to provide the best solution to our customer.

The project unfolded in two main stages:

• Designing and developing a new system architecture
• Developing a cloud-based application

Following ISO 26262 functional safety requirements and the V-model lifecycle, the team translated safety goals into system and subsystem requirements. Electronics engineers mapped hardware requirements and developed new hardware, firmware, drivers, bootloaders, and dual-boot firmware.

A full test campaign and safety analyses verified the robustness of the architecture.

Cloud connectivity and intelligent applications

On the digital side, Akkodis developed a cloud-based application on AWS, leveraging serverless Lambda functions to support racing, road, and urban mobility use cases. Bluetooth connectivity securely links the smart safety device to the cloud platform, enabling real-time data exchange, backend data management, and advanced digital functionality.

On the digital side, Akkodis developed a cloud-based application on AWS, leveraging serverless Lambda functions to support racing, road, and urban mobility use cases

Akkodis also designed and delivered both mobile and web applications, covering the full lifecycle from UX/UI design to end-to-end system validation, testing, and performance analysis.

“This multidisciplinary approach was critical,” Fiorilli explains, “to meet project requirements and design a safe, reliable application.”

Cost-Efficient Smart Architecture for Connected Motorcycle Safety Systems

The new smart device architecture significantly reduced production costs while enhancing hardware reliability and firmware performance. The upgraded electronic control unit (ECU) now manages airbag deployment, operational data logging, and wireless connectivity, ensuring faster response times and improved rider protection.

For riders, the connected mobile application delivers enhanced control and visibility, enabling:

• Manual or remote activation of the airbag safety system
• Real-time battery level monitoring
• Tracking of airbag deployment history
• GPS-based theft detection with remote locking functionality

For the manufacturer, controlled one-to-one app pairing improves product lifecycle visibility, supporting more accurate sales tracking, usage analytics, and device management.

Multidisciplinary Engineering Expertise Driving Safer Motorcycle Mobility

By applying automotive-grade, industrial, and rail engineering expertise, Akkodis delivered a robust, safety-critical solution designed to meet the highest performance and reliability standards. The project brought together functional safety, electronics, software, and systems engineering capabilities, demonstrating Akkodis’ strength in managing complex, cross-sector innovation.

“The project was a milestone for us, as one of the first major multidisciplinary efforts in this domain,” says Fiorilli.

As a result, the manufacturer now offers a significantly enhanced motorcycle safety solution, combining intelligent technology with proven engineering rigor—while motorcyclists worldwide benefit from improved protection and confidence on the open road.

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