Harvard Students Win James Dyson Award for Sideline Concussion Screening Device — Dyson Limited

Event summary

Harvard students Radhika Saran, Cleo Pontone, and Sophia DeVito won the 2026 U.S. James Dyson Award for Rumble Rims, a low-cost infrared eye-tracking headset for sideline concussion screening.
The device combines a portable headset, coach-facing display, and recovery dashboard to provide objective neurological insights in about 60 seconds.
Rumble Rims aims to bridge the gap between expensive clinical systems and subjective sideline checks, addressing a critical need in youth sports safety.
The team received $6,500 to support further development and testing of the prototype.

The big picture

The win highlights the growing focus on objective, accessible concussion screening in youth sports, addressing a critical gap in current assessment methods. With approximately 2.5 million high school students reporting sports-related concussions annually, Rumble Rims taps into a significant market need. The James Dyson Award provides a platform for innovative solutions that address real-world problems, positioning Rumble Rims for potential scalability and impact.

What we're watching

Market Adoption: The pace at which Rumble Rims can secure partnerships with schools and youth sports programs will determine its real-world impact.
Regulatory Pathways: Whether the team can successfully navigate medical-device validation processes to bring the product to market.
Competitive Landscape: How Rumble Rims differentiates itself from existing concussion screening tools and other James Dyson Award finalists like BiliRoo and Preta.