Dash Ring

Dash Rings (ダッシュリング) are reoccurring gimmicks in the Sonic the Hedgehog series which first appeared in Sonic Adventure. Though their design and name have change over the course of the series, they are basically large floating rings that give those that pass through them a boost of speed through midair.

Description
Dash Rings are rings that launch Sonic into the air. Their purpose is to allow Sonic to reach other areas separated by a gap or a wall. In Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors, they have no apparent distinction from Rainbow Rings, aside from color, sound effect when passing through them and awarding the player bonus points by passing through them.

Sonic Riders Series
In the Sonic Riders series, Dash Rings (in Sonic Riders, they are called Accelerators) allows Extreme Gear with flight capabilities to fly through a series of these objects as a shortcut route. This is called Air Ride. These Dash Rings appear when taking off from a catapult ramp or in mid-air. They serve as a shortcut and also refill the player's Extreme Gear's Air Tank with Air (or in the case of Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, the Extreme Gear's GP Tank is filled with Gravity Points).

Sonic Generations
In Sonic Generations, Dash Rings are different from Rainbow Rings, which now allow the player to perform Freestyle Tricks. They occasionally appear in trails leading up to a Rainbow Ring.