Three senior high school students from Lanna National High School in Tumauini, Isabela, have developed a groundbreaking “smart helmet” powered by artificial intelligence to enhance motorcycle rider safety. Their innovation earned the Silver Prize Award at the 2024 Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) held in South Korea, ABS-CBN News reported.
The team’s invention, called the “SMART HELMET: The Head Covering Emergency Alarm System, Life Saver and Monitoring Device,” was showcased at the international event alongside entries from inventors worldwide. Former student Miraleih Jaime represented the group at the fair, accompanied by research adviser Peter John Bacani. Jaime was also named Best Young Inventor of SIIF 2024.
The smart helmet stands out with its key safety features: accident tracking, drowsiness detection, and alcohol monitoring. Unlike conventional smart helmets that focus on communication features, this model integrates an emergency alarm system linked to a mobile app, which sends the rider’s location to emergency contacts in case of an accident. It also detects rider fatigue and prevents drunk driving by shutting down if high alcohol levels are detected.
Initially conceptualized as a school research project, the helmet underwent rigorous development over a year. The team refined the design through trial-and-error experiments to ensure sensor accuracy and avoid false alarms.
The invention has already gained recognition locally, winning awards from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) before making its international debut. The project cost less than PHP 3,000 to develop, with Bacani’s technical expertise helping the team save on programming costs.
Looking ahead, the team plans to refine the prototype and collaborate with DOST and other partners to commercialize the helmet by 2025. They aim to secure manufacturing support and turn their innovation into a market-ready product.
