ATHENGUARD

What it does

ATHENGUARD’s modular lattice is used for any padding that requires impact absorption. The design can expand laterally and deform, allowing for efficient energy dissipation and enhanced protection in applications such as sports, vehicles, and medical support.

Your inspiration

Growing up, American football was a sport universally loved in my hometown. However, parents face many concerns when allowing their children to compete. I wanted to create a solution not only for families but also for other concerns globally, which led to my research. I could print a 3D liner that expands laterally and absorbs directed impact energy. After numerous tests, I developed a valid prototype with the support of engineers and surgeons. Now, ATHENGUARD will be utilized for various other applications, including reducing noise in vacuums, enhancing comfort for orthotics, and serving as a scaffold for improved tissue integration.

How it works

ATHENGUARD is printed in one piece from a UV-curable viscoelastic elastomer via stereolithography. Its re-entrant honeycomb lattice, which possesses a unique negative Poisson’s ratio when subjected to impact-induced lateral compression, is a key feature. This kinematic response redistributes contact forces, transforming sharp, localized stress into a broader quasi-hydrostatic field and lowering transmitted linear and rotational acceleration. The elastomer’s rate-dependent storage- and loss-modulus profile provides hysteretic damping, converting residual strain energy to heat within milliseconds. Lattice cell size, strut thickness, and wall angle are parametrically tuned in software, enabling variants that range from sub-millimeter vibration isolators for vacuum-cleaner motors to 12 mm cranial pads for youth football helmets. Components print, wash, and snap into place without the use of adhesives and can be chemically recycled at the end of their life.

Design process

To verify problems related to head injuries in American Football, a literature review and interviews with physicians, athletes, and engineers in the field were conducted. The feedback received was translated into a honeycomb lattice, designed using Computer-Aided Design, and tested with custom scripts and Instron compression tests. The designs were prototyped using a Stereolithography printer and a supplied viscoelastic polymer. After finalizing the proper design with an Instron, the final prototype was integrated into standard youth football helmets and subjected to numerous impacts at various speeds and head orientations. These tests were then compared to standard helmets, and ATHENGUARD demonstrated a 60% reduction in linear acceleration and a 43% reduction in rotational acceleration. These results are statistically significant, as confirmed by a two-way ANOVA and Turkey's post hoc test, providing a high level of confidence in the product's effectiveness. These experiments were followed up by allowing youth players and professional players to try on the ATHENGUARD prototype, which was received with great approval from all players in terms of comfort and fit.

How it is different

Unlike current commercial foams, ATHENGUARD can compress laterally and deform without failure. This lattice enables proper energy dissipation for various global applications. By effectively reducing both linear and rotational accelerations, ATHENGUARD can be customized to serve any industry that requires a material for damping or energy absorption. This versatility is a significant advantage, as most products lack the type of adaptability needed to remain durable in dynamic events. Another innovation is that the hourglass design is what drives ATHENGUARD’s efficiency, not the material. This allows users to incorporate materials with different elastic properties for applications they deem necessary. ATHENGUARD’s ability to adapt to any individual’s needs is what makes this invention unique. Whether it is athletics, medical equipment, vacuums, or automobiles, ATHENGUARD can revolutionize any industry.

Future plans

Future work begins by becoming certified by the regulatory bodies for helmet standards and materials testing. Once certification is achieved, ATHENGUARD will continue to be monitored with impact testing while being used in a clinical trial during a football season for youth and professional teams, tracking head injury metrics. ATHENGUARD will also expand into applications for noise reduction in vacuums and impact absorption for automobile bumpers. All of these experiments will be conducted with the support of engineers and physicians across the country, ensuring ATHENGUARD is well-equipped to make a positive difference in the world.

Awards

ATHENGUARD was awarded first place in the FSU InNOLEvation Challenge 2025 and recognized as a finalist in the USF Florida Blue Health Innovation Challenge 2025. ATHENGUARD was also featured on PBS national television, competing for the annual ACC InVenture Prize 2025 hosted by the University of Notre Dame.