HiveGuard

2023

V1.001 / 06

ShotGuard

The first prototype paired a helmet-mounted motion sensor with machine learning and a mobile app, turning impact data into colour-coded alerts for coaches and parents.

The V1 device

Off-the-shelf sensor module and the companion app

Switching on the sensor before placing it in the helmet pouch

Watch the ShotGuard Appathon video ↗

2023 MIT App Inventor Summer Appathon

3rd place

Youth Team category

IMU impact sensing
Mobile alert workflow

2025–2026

V2.002 / 06

HiveGuard takes shape.

A TPU honeycomb helmet, custom 16-channel EEG electronics, and EEGConvTrans analysis brought protection, brain monitoring, and signal interpretation into one research prototype.

Honeycomb structure

Honeycomb helmet CAD and electronics enclosure

Simulated stress distribution in the honeycomb helmet

Vertical impact absorption: honeycomb, circular, and solid patterns

Wet-electrode EEG system

Deep learning & data collection

EEGConvTrans: CNN–Transformer model architecture

Qianhao collecting data with the integrated helmet

Prototype & presentations

2nd place at the SEC Student Research Competition

Qianhao presenting HiveGuard at her SEC poster

ACM/IEEE Symposium on Edge Computing (SEC) 2025

2nd place

Student Research Competition · Sole high-school presenter

Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair 2025 · Silver Award

Published research

ACM/IEEE SEC · 2025 · Demo paper

Demo: Honeycomb-Structured Helmet with Embedded EEG System

Read paper (PDF) ↗DOI: 10.1145/3769102.3774371 ↗

IEEE ICCE · 2026 · System & evaluation paper

Honeycomb-Inspired Concussion Protection Helmet with Intelligent EEG Feedback System

Read paper (PDF) ↗DOI: 10.1109/ICCE67443.2026.11449870 ↗

2025–2026

V2.103 / 06

From research to product.

A thinner structure, gyroid exploration, and a clearer mobile interface shifted the focus toward comfort and everyday use. Alpha testing and user research helped shape the next design.

Hardware refinement & impact testing

We refined the electronics and compared 3D-printed infill structures, including gyroid and honeycomb, through pendulum-style impact testing.

Assembling the electrodes and internal wiring

Refined honeycomb helmet with integrated electronics

The complete pendulum-style impact test rig

The V2.1 product

The V2.1 helmet: outer shell, honeycomb structure, and integrated EEG electrodes

HiveGuard V2.1 product demonstration

Learning from players

Eight interviews brought player experiences and feedback into the design process.

Watch the player interviews ↗

Working as a team

Working together at the prototype workbench

The team with our evolving helmet prototypes

HiveGuard Pitch Video · Diamond Challenge Semifinal Round

Alpha testing

20 users

More than 95% reported that the prototype was comfortable.

Conrad Challenge & Diamond Challenge first-round participation
8 interviews and 70+ survey responses
Toronto Titans pilot agreement for future on-ice testing

2026

V2.204 / 06

Inside a familiar helmet.

HiveGuard evolved from a fully 3D-printed helmet to a fitted system integrated into an existing hockey helmet. A custom internal liner held the electrodes and electronics, while the mobile app made results easier to access at the sideline.

From printed prototypes to hockey helmets

The fitted electrode liner inside the hockey helmet

The earlier fully 3D-printed helmet prototypes

Conrad Challenge China

The team at the HiveGuard innovation display

Presenting the prototype and discussing the design

Conrad Challenge China

Gold · 2nd place

Out of 73 teams · Feedback from investors helped guide wearability and the move toward dry electrodes.

Integrated liner for an existing hockey helmet
Direct mobile app feedback

2026

V3.005 / 06

A new approach to sensing.

We wanted EEG sensing without gel preparation, making the helmet easier to use during sports. Rigid dry electrodes could be uncomfortable and lose scalp contact during movement, introducing noise. V3.0 explored sixteen compliant dry electrodes in a fully printed helmet, alongside AI evaluation on public mTBI EEG data.

The dry-electrode prototype

The fully 3D-printed V3.0 research helmet

Sixteen dry electrodes integrated into the lining

Flexible arms adapt to the scalp and help maintain contact as the helmet shifts. Multiple rounded copper tips spread pressure, aiming to improve comfort and reduce contact-related motion noise.

Building the integrated system

Assembling the electrode wiring at the workbench

Connecting the printed helmet and electrode lining

Fitting the EEG circuit board into its printed enclosure

Testing & signal collection

Testing the integrated helmet while monitoring the EEG recording

Inspecting the recorded signals during bench testing

AI models & evaluation

Single-band classification and band-ablation results

We compared an interpretable band-power logistic regression baseline with EEGNet, a compact neural network. Single-band and band-ablation experiments explored which frequency bands contributed to classification, with subjects kept separate across training and evaluation.

Sharing the research at YRSTF

Qianhao with the V3.0 prototype and research display at YRSTF

Demonstrating the helmet and electrode system at YRSTF

York Region Science & Technology Fair

Best in Health & Wellness

Awarded for the integrated protection and brain-monitoring research prototype.

16 compliant dry electrodes
Integrated wearable research platform
Subject-level evaluation on public mTBI EEG data

2026 · Current prototype

V3.106 / 06

A modular platform.

The dry-electrode system returned to an existing hockey helmet, with a fitted liner and compact rear electronics. The same core platform began adapting to football and a scalable business model.