KERS Technology
As I’m sure you are aware the KERS technology has recently made it’s sporting debut in Formula 1, it is interesting to see how this technology translates to skis and Head are the first manufacturer to bring the system to market. This brief guide explains how it works.
The Extra Boost
KERS Technology works like a turbo charger that provides additional power and acceleration by stiffening the tail of the ski in outturns. The effect: a boost, catapulting the rider into the next turn. Just like when Formula 1 pilots push a button for that extra notch of speed. Head KERS Technology is an electronic, fully automatic and integrated system.
Technical Background
Head KERS Technology is an evolution of the idea behind Heads‘s Intelligence Technology. But unlike Intelligence, KERS does not inluence the torsional stiffness of the ski, KERS empowers the skis‘ longitudinal flex. Also KERS Technology is based on a completely new chip capable of accumulating power and keeping it in store for the right moment.
Piezoelectric fibers transform kinetic energy into electrical energy which is stored in the embedded chip in the ski. Electrical energy is immediately released to areas of the ski, where additional energy is requested by the sensor. Timing and release are automatically controlled and coordinated. Depending on the flex pattern of different ski models, sensors are programmed beforehand: the more aggressive the ski has to be, the stiffer the tail will become.
HOW IT WORKS
Skis experience maximum flex at the end of a turn. At this moment an active microship releases energy into the fibers of the tail. The tail of the ski then stiffens up, immediately increasing rebound for maximum acceleration at the end of the outturn.
