The helmet 'Kranium' has been constructed from cardboard and designed by Royal College Art student Anirudha Surabhi, which promises to be 15 per cent lighter than standard helmets, while absorbing up to three times the impact energy during a collision.
Surabhi was inspired to create the Kranium following a nasty fall from his bicycle which caused a cracked helmet and minor concussion, 'Gizmag' reported.
The designer was also struck by the woodpecker's ability to withstand repeated heavy impact, thanks to the bird's unique corrugated cartilage structure which separates beak from skull.
The Formula 1 team Force India is incorporating the Kranium technology into its own helmet design, the report said.
The Kranium is waterproof, and boasts some green credentials, due to it being manufactured from recycled paper.
Cardboard can be a surprisingly versatile manufacturing material in the right hands, as was highlighted by the recently unveiled cardboard bicycle.
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Rather than remaining completely rigid, the helmet is designed to allow a degree of flexing in order to help absorb impact force, of which it can withstand up to three times as much as typical expanded polystyrene (EPS) helmets, while remaining 15 per cent lighter.
These figures derive from tests conducted by Surabhi and his collaborators, in addition to safety testing laboratories in Germany and the UK.