Revolutionary Low-Cost Headset Screens Athletes for Concussions in 60 Seconds

A team of three students at Harvard University has developed Rumble Rims, a low-cost infrared eye-tracking headset that helps schools screen for possible concussions on the sideline in about 60 seconds.

The system is designed to give coaches more objective information during sideline checks, making it a game-changer in sports safety.

The idea behind Rumble Rims began with a simple question: why do young athletes rely on subjective sideline checks when more objective tools exist, locked inside clinical systems that can cost around $50,000?

The team wanted coaches, athletes, and families to have clearer information at the exact moment of risk, without needing a hospital or specialist equipment.

Rumble Rims works as a three-part system: an infrared headset with two side-mounted cameras and angled hot mirrors that reflect infrared light to the cameras while letting visible light pass through, a coach-facing mobile display, and a recovery dashboard.

The test tracks how an athlete's eyes move and uses this information to look for possible signs of a concussion.

It does not require a previous baseline test, making it a more accessible and affordable option for schools and youth sports programs.

The team began by identifying the sideline itself as the weak point in concussion care, since accurate screening tools existed but weren't built for school environments.

Early prototypes explored helmets, mouthguards, a black-curtain room, and expandable structures enclosing the screen, camera, and athlete's face, teaching the team lessons about lighting, head stability, and screen distance, but proving too bulky for sideline use.

Testing chin rests and head-motion correction revealed that accuracy depended less on building a controlled room and more on controlling the relationship between the eyes and the cameras.

That insight led to the final headset, which moves with the athlete's head to reduce relative motion, with simple anthropometric setup cues such as 'one arm's distance' for coaches under pressure.

Rumble Rims is designed to combine objective eye-tracking, sideline portability, and affordability into a single system used where the injury actually happens, functioning as a full care pathway from impact through to clearance rather than a single device.

The project has been recognised with the Red Dot Design Award in the Medical Devices and Technology category, as well as the 2026 US James Dyson Award.

Radhika Saran told PR Newswire that objective tools 'should not be locked inside expensive clinical systems,' and should instead be accessible where young athletes actually get injured.

The team's next step is to build and test a higher-fidelity headset prototype, refine the oculomotor test, and validate the system with athletes, coaches, trainers, and medical advisors, with a focus on accuracy, usability, comfort, and cost.

Longer term, they hope to pilot Rumble Rims with schools and youth sports programs and pursue medical-device validation pathways.

Read also: Hyundai Bayon Design Sketch: First Official Preview

Cleo Pontone told PR Newswire that the strongest solutions start with understanding the people who will use them and the environments in which they'll be used.

Rumble Rims now advances to the next stage of the James Dyson Award, with the international 'Top 20' shortlist due on 14 October.

The team's innovative approach to concussion detection has the potential to revolutionize sports safety and make a significant impact on the lives of young athletes.

With its low-cost and portable design, Rumble Rims is poised to become a game-changer in the world of sports safety.

The team's dedication to creating a more accessible and affordable solution for concussion detection is a testament to their commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Rumble Rims is a shining example of how innovative thinking and design can come together to create a solution that has the potential to change lives.

The team's work on Rumble Rims has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the Red Dot Design Award and the 2026 US James Dyson Award.

The project's success is a testament to the team's hard work and dedication to creating a solution that meets the needs of athletes, coaches, and families.

Rumble Rims is a low-cost infrared eye-tracking headset that can screen athletes for concussions in about 60 seconds, making it a game-changer in sports safety.

The team's innovative approach to concussion detection has the potential to revolutionize sports safety and make a significant impact on the lives of young athletes.

Rumble Rims is a shining example of how innovative thinking and design can come together to create a solution that has the potential to change lives.

• Rumble Rims is a low-cost infrared eye-tracking headset that can screen athletes for concussions in about 60 seconds.
• The system is designed to give coaches more objective information during sideline checks.
• The project has been recognised with the Red Dot Design Award and the 2026 US James Dyson Award.