Helmet Impact Tracking with Segmented Shock Absorbers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current helmets provide a false sense of security, leading to increased head injuries in sports due to their weight and lack of adaptive shock absorption, and they do not effectively track impact forces to assess injury risk.
Innovation Solution
A helmet with integrated sensors, processors, and varying shock absorbers that measure and record impact forces, activating an alarm system if thresholds are exceeded, and include a data storage system to track impact history and provide real-time injury assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If helmets are made heavier to provide better protection, then shock absorption capability is improved, but comfort and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet divides shock absorption into multiple independent shock absorbers distributed throughout the structure. Each shock absorber is a separate element that can be individually optimized, allowing the helmet to provide comprehensive protection without requiring excessive overall weight. The segmentation enables strategic placement of shock absorption elements only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different shock absorbers are positioned at specific locations within the helmet based on impact probability and severity. The shock absorption characteristics vary by location, with higher-density shock absorbers in areas more susceptible to impact. This localized approach provides targeted protection without uniformly increasing weight across the entire helmet.
2Reliability
If helmets provide a false sense of security through weight, then perceived protection is improved, but actual injury prevention deteriorates due to offensive use
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorbers are designed to dynamically respond to impact forces rather than providing static resistance. They activate only when impact thresholds are exceeded, adapting their resistance based on the severity and nature of the impact. This dynamic response provides protection when needed without creating a rigid structure that could be used offensively.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock absorption characteristics change based on impact parameters such as force magnitude, direction, and duration. The system adjusts its protective response by activating different shock absorbers or varying their absorption intensity based on the detected impact parameters, providing appropriate protection without encouraging aggressive behavior.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform shock absorption is provided in all helmets, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different impact forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet employs multiple discrete shock absorbers that can be independently configured with different absorption characteristics. This segmentation allows the manufacturer to create standardized shock absorber units that can be assembled in various patterns to meet different performance requirements, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock absorbers utilize composite material structures combining different materials with complementary properties. This allows a single standardized shock absorber design to exhibit varying absorption characteristics depending on configuration, achieving adaptability through material composition rather than requiring completely different components for different impact scenarios.
4Measurement precision
If impact tracking capabilities are added to helmets, then injury assessment capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorbers serve dual functions: providing mechanical shock absorption and enabling impact tracking through integrated sensors. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by combining protection and monitoring capabilities in the same structural elements, rather than adding separate tracking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The impact tracking system utilizes the existing shock absorber structure and impact events to generate measurement data. The system automatically detects and records impacts without requiring external monitoring equipment or complex processing, as the shock absorbers themselves provide the measurement opportunity through their activation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The helmet reduces head injuries by providing adaptive shock absorption and impact tracking, alerting the wearer and others to potential brain injuries, while maintaining a lightweight design without increasing stiffness or weight.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor measures a force applied to the helmet and sends a signal to the processor indicative of the measured force
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of shock absorbers including at least one first shock absorber having a first shock absorption characteristic and at least one second shock absorber having a second shock absorption characteristic
Data Source
AI summary
A helmet for tracking impact including at least one sensor, a processor in communication with the sensor and a storage file in communication with the processor, the at least one sensor measures a force applied to the helmet and sends a signal to the processor indicative of the measured force. The processor receives the signal indicative of the measured force and compares the measured force to a predetermined value, wherein if the measured force exceeds the predetermined value data is sent to the storage file to record the measured force. The helmet can include an alarm system and/or an injury tracking system.