Five UGM students have developed an innovative safety jacket for two-wheeler riders called J-Force. This product is designed to protect users in the event of an accident.
“J-Force is a safety jacket for two-wheeler riders equipped with an airbag or Air Cushion Restraint Safety as a safety feature in the event of an accident,” said J-Force developer Theophylus Yestra Pratama during a conversation with reporters at UGM on Monday (October 9).
Theophylus Pratama explained that adding an airbag to the product is intended to protect users in an accident. This airbag can be inflated and deflated manually using a pump.
J-Force is similar to a vacuum bag that can be filled with air. The air will only escape if the air channel is opened. The airbag is made of durable, impact-resistant material that gives comfort to the user.
The product was born from the creative hands of UGM students through the Student Creativity Program in Entrepreneurship, which successfully received funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The team consists of Genesis Junior Sumlang (Electrical Engineering Technology), Bima Aditya Putra (Banking), Hubertus Rangga Rediatama (Banking), Theophylus Yestra Pratama (Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technology), and Salsabila Shafa Qorisu (Pharmacy), under the guidance of Elton Buyung Satrianto.
Bima Putra added that the development of J-Force began with concerns about the high rate of traffic accidents in Indonesia.
Based on data from the Indonesian Police’s Traffic Corps, published by the Ministry of Transportation, the number of traffic accidents in Indonesia reached 103,645 cases in 2021. This figure was higher than the 100,028 cases reported in 2020.
In 2021, traffic accidents claimed the lives of 25,266 people, with material losses totaling IDR 246 billion. In 2022, there were 10,553 serious injuries and 117,913 minor injuries due to traffic accidents.
“Based on the type of vehicle, the highest number of traffic accidents involves motorcycles,” Putra said.
Seeing this situation, they developed a product specifically for two-wheeler vehicle users that can protect them in the event of an accident.
“We aim to enhance the functionality of jackets for two-wheeler riders, making them jackets that provide maximum protection, especially in an accident,” Putra said.
“J-Force offers extra protection in the form of Air Cushion Restraint Safety that protects the user’s body but does not compromise the aesthetics of the jacket.”
Putra explained that J-Force products are available in various sizes and can be folded when unused. The jacket is made in black. The choice of black is because when worn in bright light, black contrasts with the surrounding environment, reducing the risk of accidents for road users.
“The jacket can be worn by users weighing a maximum of 75 kg and traveling at a maximum speed of 80 km/h,” he said.
Hubertus Rediatama explained that the product is made of three layers of material. This ensures that it is strong enough to protect users in an accident.
The outer layer is made of robust, waterproof material resistant to friction. The second layer is strong, waterproof material with an airbag as a rider’s protective cushion.
Finally, the innermost layer is made of soft, smooth, strong material that directly touches the user’s body, providing comfort when worn.
“We are selling one jacket for IDR 260,000. For those interested, you can order at http://instagram.com/pkmkugm_jforces,” Rediatama said.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Firsto