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2012: The Helmet Sensor System

Posted on February 8, 2019 Written by Gregory Durgin

Chris Valenta and Bashir Akbar built a 5.8 GHz backscatter semi-passive system for detecting real-time shocks in helmets. The primary use was concussion detection in sports.

In 2012, students Chris Valenta and Bashir Akbar put together a prototype 5.8 GHz backscatter sensor that was able to pull real time shock sensing data from the helmet of a sports player.  Using a reader mounted on the side of a field, the microwave backscatter system grabbed 6-axis accelerometer and gyrometer data from a low-powered, micro controller-based system that ran off of a small coin cell battery.  Variations of this system would serve as the template of future microwave backscatter radios.

Fun fact #1:  The project was sponsored at the time by a small start-up named Thingamagigawerks.

Fun fact #2:  A video of the helmet system in action can be seen here.

Filed Under: Backscatter Radio

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