I’m not really convinced. A “body protector” - the hard shell thingy - provides passive protection. Like a helmet, it is always there, on one’s body, in case one falls off. An “air vest” - the inflatable thingy - offers active protection. It requires activation of the gas canister to inflate and so provide protection. I’m open to persuasion, but an inflatable hard shell seems a bit of a stretch. How is there room to inflate inside the protective panels? If the protective panels are not snug to the body, do they provide adequate passive protection? I’m sure the designers have worked on this but, in my experience, a badly fitted air vest causes many riders to be gasping for air until someone comes to help them.
Apart from my one-person-only point of view, in British Eventing this new device would be difficult to use because a body protector, of the correct BETA standard, is compulsory and an air vest, with no safety standard available as yet, is voluntary and it must be worn on top of a body protector.
It will be interesting to see how this product develops because I’m all in favour of safety and of innovation that improves safety.