Three Harvard students have developed an innovative headset that uses eye-tracking technology to screen young athletes for concussions in just 2 to 3 minutes. The device, named Rumble Rims, won the 2026 James Dyson Award for the United States, highlighting its potential to transform concussion care in youth sports.
- Screens for concussions in 2 to 3 minutes using eye-tracking
- Designed to give coaches immediate and objective data during games
- Plans to pilot with youth sports and improve concussion safety
What happened
A team of three Harvard students—Radhika Saran, Cleo Pontone, and Sophia DeVito—created a headset called Rumble Rims that uses infrared eye-tracking to quickly screen young athletes for possible concussions. Their invention won the James Dyson Award 2026 for the United States, earning $6,500 to support further development. The device captures eye movements during specific tasks and translates this data into actionable information for coaches on the sidelines.
The innovation was inspired by the high incidence of concussions among youth athletes, with CDC data showing that about 15% of U.S. high school students reported at least one sports-related concussion within the past year. The students aimed to close the gap between costly clinical concussion tests and subjective on-field assessments by providing a reliable, sideline-ready tool.
Why it feels good
Rumble Rims gives coaches, athletes, and families clearer and more objective information exactly when it matters most — during the heat of sporting events when quick decisions on player safety must be made. This tool removes emotional and subjective judgment from the equation, helping protect young brains by ensuring athletes with suspected concussions are promptly removed from play and can start a proper recovery.
The side benefit is increased peace of mind for coaches and parents. With concussion risks widely recognized but difficult to diagnose on the field, this headset offers a practical technology solution that moves concussion care from specialized clinics onto the playing field, where injuries happen.
What to enjoy or watch next
With its initial success, the Rumble Rims team plans to refine the headset’s design and test a higher-fidelity prototype among athletes, coaches, medical advisors, and trainers. They aim to pilot the system in schools and youth sports programs to validate its accuracy and usefulness in real-world settings.
As awareness of sports-related brain injuries grows, inventions like Rumble Rims represent important advances in keeping young athletes safe. Watching how this technology develops, gains adoption, and potentially influences concussion management policies will be valuable for families, coaches, and healthcare professionals alike.