Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab has become the industry standard for safety testing for nearly every type of sports helmet on the market, from American football and equestrian to snow sports. For cycling helmets, the lab uses a variety of impact testing protocols to measure linear rotation and rotational velocity, and from this derive a safety score, which correlates with concussion risk. These tests look at how each helmet design handles impacts and how energy is transferred and dispersed.
MIPS technology, first introduced in 2007, was revolutionary for its integration of a low-friction layer into helmets that can move under impact, reducing the rotational forces that are transferred into the head.
