Technology

Wait Until You See the Kevlar ‘Carkoon’ — A Car Seat that Turns Into a Safety Pod!

Modern technology is frequently bringing more gadgets to the market that are every protective parent’s dream. This next one is no different, and boy does it pack in some high-tech features to keep your little one safe.

It’s called the “Carkoon,” which is essentially a car seat with a built-in airbag that immediately will cocoon your baby in a safe, cushioned package in the event of a crash. To be more precise, it will envelop the baby within 50 milliseconds upon impact in Kevlar, a material often used in body armor with a strength-to-weight ratio that is five times stronger than steel.

Developed by the British company Cool Technologies, the Carkoon is fireproof and holds 20 minutes of air supply. It also sends a GPS location to emergency services when it senses deployment from an impact.

Carkoon: High Tech Car Seat Features Kevlar Airbag to Shield Baby From Flying Objects, Fire in Crash

(Image: Daily Mail)

Here’s what Carkoon has to say about its technology:

Carkoon offers the very best protection for your child. Featuring a side impact protection system, that actually absorbs impact forces, you can be sure your child has the best possible protection here. Our airbag is manufactured using high quality fire retardant Kevlar material, ensuring that, in the unlikely event of an accident involving fire – your child is protected.

Check out how it works:

The Daily Mail explains the car seat’s airbag remains rigid to allow objects flying in the vehicle to bounce right off of it. It reports Carkoon inventor Jullian Preston-Powers saying “we have even bounced a brick off of it.”

So what inspired the idea for this even more protective carseat? The Daily Mail explains:

[Preston-Powers] came up with the idea after speaking to a Sussex fireman whose hands were badly burned when he tried to rescue a baby from a burning car.

Sadly, the fireman was unsuccessful and the baby died.

Carkoon: High Tech Car Seat Features Kevlar Airbag to Shield Baby From Flying Objects, Fire in Crash

Carkoon design before deployment of the airbag. (Image: Carkoon)

Carkoon: High Tech Car Seat Features Kevlar Airbag to Shield Baby From Flying Objects, Fire in Crash

Once Carkoon senses impact, the airbag deploys over the baby within 50 milliseconds. (Image: Carkoon)

Although the cars eat is generally rear facing, touted as the safest direction to seat young ones, it does have a swivel function to make it easy for parents to buckle children in and then turn them to the correct position. It also features a quick release handle to make it easy to remove the baby from the car in an emergency situation.

The Carkoon costs nearly $800 (£499), which is rather pricey when you compare to more traditional models that can cost upwards of $200 to $300.

The Daily Mail reports the Carkoon prototype recently underwent testing in Britain’s Transport Research Laboratory, but before it’s market ready, the company will need to prove the airbag does not pose with any risks to the baby or interfere with rescue.

Comments (53)

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  • Rowgue
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:51pm

    Lets see a demonstration of the actual seat rather than a CG rendering and you’ll have a real story.

    Report Post »  
    • Goohuman
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 9:44pm

      Maybe the story is a trial balloon to see if people will have an uneasy feeling about a child suffocating as they lay unconcious.

      Report Post » Goohuman  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:42pm

    I like it!

    Report Post »  
  • cantstopthesignal
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:00pm

    Not to mention the years of therapy for the trauma caused by riding along happily and all of a sudden being trapped in what to me looks like a coffin not a cocoon… and not to mention all the anti-anxiety drugs needed for claustrophobia….

    Report Post » cantstopthesignal  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 7:57pm

      im pretty sure you wont remember anything. lets face it, if elmo dosent sacre them this should be ok

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
  • inferno
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:31pm

    There is another use for this invention. It can be used to increase garage sale inventories, along with
    strollers and small children toys and clothing.

    Report Post »  
  • Sunspots
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 12:58pm

    And what if it takes more than 20 minutes for rescue workers to get to the car seat and figure out how to open it? If the car is badly damaged, or the accident is in a rural area… 20 minutes is not a lot of time to get to the accident scene, figure out that there is a baby encased in this thing to begin with, and free the kid in the seat from the wreckage. I suspect this idea will work great until the first kid who could have survived the accident suffocates due to rescue workers not being able to get to the scene and free the child within 20 minutes.

    Report Post »  
    • karen162
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:02pm

      In that scenario….the baby is dead either way. If the baby didn’t have the carkoon and the car crashed and caught fire….the end result will be the same.

      Report Post » karen162  
    • one.dakine.howlie
      Posted on April 13, 2012 at 11:58am

      Not necessarily Karen. If the car crashes in a remote area and the other passengers are killed or knocked unconscious for longer than 20 minutes the baby will suffocate before anyone can free the child from the seat.
      They need a few more features on this seat before it’s ready for sale. For instance: An kevlar “opt-out” key-hole like a vehicle has for the passenger airbag. Or perhaps a kevlar release feature if the carseat doesn’t detect a fire. Or perhaps the kevlar could just release itself after 20 minutes so the child doesn’t suffocate. I don’t know. I think an “opt-out” feature would be the best since it would be rare for someone to not be within 20 minutes of rescue and if that ever came up they could just turn it off. Overall this carseat isn’t for the average person. It requires much more thought-process and responsibility than the average carseat.

      Report Post »  
  • right-wing-waco
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 12:53pm

    Lets take this a step further. How about an airbag that protects the entire car. Call it the CarToom.

    Report Post »  
  • ROMANS 10-9
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 12:36pm

    I smell another LIBERAL LAW in the Works!

    Nope, just a poopy diaper.

    Let the Brothers go!

    Report Post » ROMANS 10-9  
  • ROMANS 10-9
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 12:34pm

    Let the Brothers Go!

    Let the Brothers Go!!!

    Let the Brothers Go!!!!!

    Report Post » ROMANS 10-9  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:59am

    Good idea but the name has to be changed. I personally like the name but Tyrome and Leroy will be protesting the product. Sharpton will be on his bullhorn. Jesse will be rhymin’ and obama will start up his teleprompter.

    Report Post »  
    • Your Name Here
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 12:30pm

      It needs a pop up sensor so you will know when “the turkey is done” and it’s safe.
      It just needs little Spade symbols to go with the KarCOON name.
      If it truly was a KarCOON it would hav a built in coat hanger…

      Report Post » Your Name Here  
    • thegreatcarnac
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:00pm

      YOUR NAME HERE……..hey..that was funny…..

      Report Post »  
  • right-wing-waco
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:52am

    Leave the baby at home…. problem solved.

    Report Post »  
  • MiddleAmerica2012
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:02am

    you cant hide from death all the time.

    Report Post » MiddleAmerica2012  
  • p00gles
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:42am

    Last pic makes me hungry for turkey!

    Report Post »  
  • Thinking Man
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:34am

    Don’t they remember; this concept failed miserably on the B-58.

    Report Post »  
    • TeslanEdison
      Posted on April 14, 2012 at 2:38am

      worked okay if you had less then a size 12 shoe, otherwise goodbye toes.

      Report Post »  
  • TheLeftMadeMeRight
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:27am

    Does it eject seat & baby when it detects an accident is about to happen?

    Report Post » TheLeftMadeMeRight  
  • whereareyourbrains
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:21am

    So if the baby has his arm out, what happens? How about if he happens to have his head at an angle.
    Needs to be perfected a little more.

    Report Post » whereareyourbrains  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:47am

      yes I agree but the overall concept is fantastic. I hope they can work it out and get it on the market.

      Report Post »  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:16am

    This is neat. To me it is like buying asteroid insurance for my home policy at this time in it’s development. Yes, I can buy a rider that will protect me in case an asteroid strikes my house.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • Media_Saint
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:52am

    All I saw was animations and drawings. Do they have an actual working product or did I miss something.

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:41am

    .
    I’m just a litle concerened about the ‘Carkoon’ name. I can hear Shaneiqua now “I ain’t putting my baby in no Carkoon”. Al & Jessie will probably to hold a rally in protest of the name……..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • AMENDMENT
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:47am

      Lmao

      Report Post » AMENDMENT  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:53am

      saw the name and thought it was a carjacking…………..

      Report Post »  
    • pavnvet
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:57am

      Too funny, RFLMAO. Isn’t that someone we all know is called when riding in the Presidential Limo? Personally, I think he should get used to riding in the back seat, hopefully the next one will be the back seat of a police vehicle carting him off.

      Report Post » pavnvet  
    • hogtrashhd
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:26am

      yep.. that’s what i thought .. a word within a word will now be banned.. and rioted against.. these people are really sick..

      Report Post »  
  • qpwillie
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:38am

    The name sounds racist to me. I’m calling Eric Holder!

    Report Post » qpwillie  
  • krod2516
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:37am

    They need to make it able to go under water also.

    Report Post »  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:40am

      KROD…it is airtight with a 20-minute air supply…it can go underwater….

      Report Post » VRW Conspirator  
  • bpodlesnik
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:32am

    That video description was horrible. All it shows is a airbag being deployed out of nowhere and somehow it conforms to the shape of the car seat and seals itself around the edges. Not to mention, did they forget about how a baby needs to breathe?

    Report Post » bpodlesnik  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:27am

    Excellent, American ingenuity at its finest.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:33am

      .
      Developed by the British company Cool Technologies……

      More proof Obama is killing America….

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:35am

      Ummm..Snow….this was developed and made in the UK…

      but yes…the ULTIMATE KOOL carseat….this thing is awesome….

      Report Post » VRW Conspirator  
    • AMENDMENT
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:51am

      I hope the new born babies remember to pull his/her arms in to avoid being chopped off… Or maybe this is a UK Muslim invention and a preemptive way of stopping the wee ones from becoming thieves??

      Report Post » AMENDMENT  
  • Tickdog
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:25am

    we need those for adults too.

    Report Post » Tickdog  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:22am

    Now, if they could only do the same with all of the seats in a car.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • Oldphoto678
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:42am

      They could make cars almost crash proof, but the cost would be so high that you’d never see one unless you ventured outside of your trailer park.

      Report Post »  
  • ThankBabyJesus
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:21am

    We have the technology!

    Report Post » ThankBabyJesus  
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