A miniature, battery-efficient sensor developed by researchers at KAUST could significantly advance the early detection of hazardous head impacts in sports, mobility and other high-risk environments. By activating only at the moment a dangerous shock occurs, the technology offers a practical alternative to existing, power-intensive monitoring solutions.
The sensor functions as a mechanical–electrical safety switch that responds instantly to sudden acceleration from any direction. When a predefined impact threshold is exceeded, the device activates and registers the severity of the event in real time. The research describing the technology has been published in Scientific Reports.
Compact and efficient
Compact enough to fit on a helmet, pair of ski goggles, industrial hard hat or even a child’s headband, the sensor is approximately the size of a fingernail. In its default state it consumes no power. Only when a sharp impact causes internal mechanical components to make contact does the electrical circuit close, triggering the system. This passive design enables long-term deployment without frequent battery replacement or maintenance.
“It functions much like a seatbelt for the brain,” explains electromechanical engineer Yousef Algoos, who developed the device during his PhD research at KAUST. The project was carried out in collaboration with Mohammad Younis from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
Combining precision, simplicity and efficiency
According to the researchers, the strength of the technology lies in the combination of omnidirectional sensitivity, multiple impact thresholds and fully passive operation. These features allow the sensor to discriminate between minor impacts and potentially dangerous head trauma without relying on continuous data acquisition, complex algorithms or energy-hungry electronics.
Current head-impact monitoring systems are typically based on accelerometers that must remain active at all times. This limits battery life, increases size and cost, and confines their use largely to professional sports or research settings. The KAUST-developed sensor addresses these limitations by remaining dormant until it is truly needed.
The origins of the project are personal. Algoos was motivated by the loss of his brother in 2018 following a car accident in which head trauma was not immediately diagnosed. “That experience highlighted the critical need for smart, on-the-spot detection tools that can support faster medical decision-making,” he says.
Laboratory validation and next steps
The sensor’s operation is based on a suspended mass inside the chip that moves under sudden acceleration. When the mass contacts one of several concentric electrodes, a specific impact threshold is reached. Each threshold corresponds to a different severity level, enabling instant classification of the event at the hardware level.
In laboratory tests using a drop-table setup, the sensor demonstrated reliable activation across a full 360-degree range, triggering consistently at acceleration levels associated with both mild and severe head trauma. These results confirm the feasibility of the approach under controlled conditions.
The next phase of development will focus on integrating the sensor into crash-test dummies to assess its performance during complex, whole-body impact scenarios. While still at prototype stage, the researchers envision future applications in which the sensor automatically generates alerts via mobile apps, audible signals or wireless notifications to caregivers, coaches or emergency responders.
With a patent already filed, the team is now exploring pathways toward commercialization and collaboration with industry partners. If successfully translated into a market-ready product, the technology could play a meaningful role in improving head injury detection and response across healthcare, sports and transportation.
