Harvard student team wins James Dyson Award 2026 for Rumble Rims concussion-screening headset

Radhika Saran, an Indian-origin student at Harvard University, has won the James Dyson Award 2026 together with project partners Cleo Pontone and Sophia DeVito, The Indian Express reports. The award was given for Rumble Rims, a low-cost headset. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗ James Dyson selected the project in the Global Medical category, and the team receives $40,000 (approximately Rs 37 lakh) to accelerate development of the technology. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗

The James Dyson Award is an international design competition that recognises inventions by students and future engineers. This year it received 2,294 entries from 28 countries and regions. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗

How the Rumble Rims headset works

Rumble Rims uses infrared cameras to track an athlete's eye movements. It is designed to provide an objective screening of possible neurological impairment following a head injury. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗

The test takes two to three minutes. During it, the cameras measure how the athlete's eyes follow objects, focus and move. The measurements are processed and shown on a mobile screen, giving real-time guidance that helps coaches and trainers decide whether an athlete should be removed from play and referred for medical assessment. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗

The device also has a recovery dashboard that allows repeated testing over time. According to the report, this can help athletes, families and healthcare professionals monitor recovery before an athlete returns to sport. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗

Screening tool, not a diagnostic device

Rumble Rims is intended as a screening tool rather than a diagnostic device. Decisions about an athlete's return to play remain with qualified healthcare professionals. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗

The headset is designed to make concussion screening easier and more accessible, particularly for schools, youth sports teams and grassroots-level athletes. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗

Saran grew up in India and trained as an architect before continuing her studies abroad. She is currently enrolled in the Master's in Design Engineering programme at Harvard University. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗

Speaking about the award, Saran said it recognises the team's belief that existing problems should be solved through better design and accessible technology rather than accepted as they are. She also said the risks of concussion in youth sports should be taken more seriously because of their possible long-term impact. indianexpress.comThe Indian Expressindianexpress.comOpen source ↗