A collaboration between biomechanics, robotics, biology, and electrical engineering has led to the proposed development of a smart helmet to reduce risk of concussion. The helmet would offer active (instead of passive) impact protection and offer a unique warning system that could reduce head angular accelerations from impact.
Ed Yeates and KSL recently spotlighted the project. Funding for the proposal is currently being sought from the Smart and Connected Health program jointly run by NIH and NSF. Collaborators on the project are Mark Minor (Mechanical Engineering), Andrew Merryweather (Mechanical Engineering), David Carrier (Biology), David Schurig (Electrical Engineering), Neal Patwari (Electrical Engineering), and Colby Hansen (UofU Healthcare). Dr. Coats’ role on the project will be to evaluate the effectiveness on the helmet design in mitigating brain strains using finite element modeling.