What it does
CoolHelmet Attachment snaps onto any standard safety helmet and uses two fans to blow air across the sides of the head, while a central Peltier plate presses gently against the back of the neck to cool major blood vessels, providing lasting relief.
Your inspiration
Observing construction crews in tropical climates such as in our home country Singapore, I saw migrant workers suffer heat stress under standard hard hats which blocks ventilation and wind. Traditional cooling solutions like ice packs melted too quickly and passive vents design in the helmets offered little relief. Inspired by thermoelectric neck-cooling fans and portable fan designs, I envisioned a universal, battery-powered module, that can easily snap on and off any existing helmets/hard hats, that actively cools both the scalp and neck to boost comfort and safety.
How it works
1. Neck-Contact Peltier Plate A 10 W thermoelectric module contacts the nape, cooling skin by up to 1.7 °C. Its hot side is paired with a compact aluminum heat sink and fan that vents heat outward and away. 2. Dual Side-Fans Two 1.5 W brushless fans mounted at helmet sides force ambient air over the scalp, enhancing convective heat loss. Speed is adjustable via a switch on the battery pack. 3. Rechargeable Battery A 7 000 mAh Li-ion pack delivers up to 7 hours of continuous operation. USB-C port allows rapid recharging between shifts. 4. Universal Clip Mechanism Clips grip helmet ridge slots tool-free. Quick-release tabs detach the module in seconds, fitting virtually any hard hat.
Design process
User Research (Oct–Nov ’24): Interviews over 20 outdoor migrant workers pinpointed head and neck overheating as critical. Concept Development (Dec ’24): Explored passive vents, ice-packs, and active cooling; selected hybrid fan + Peltier approach. Thermal & Power Sizing (Jan ’25): Calculated 13 W total load (1.5 W fans + 10 W Peltier). CAD & Rapid Prototype (Feb ’25): Modeled and 3D-printed clip and fan housings; integrated Peltier and heat sink. User Tests (April ’25): Verified a 1.7 °C drop at the neck interface and 0.5 °C scalp cooling vs. passive vents.
How it is different
Targeted Neck Cooling: Direct Peltier contact exploits nape blood flow for systemic cooling. Hybrid Active System: Integrates forced-air and thermoelectric cooling—unlike standard vented or fan-only helmets. Universal, Tool-Free Fit: Attaches to any helmet/hard hat without permanent modifications. Extended Battery Life: Seven-hour runtime covers full shifts, without bulky ice or solar panels.
Future plans
Field Trials: Deploy 50 units on two tropical sites for a 6-week comfort and productivity study. Smart Control: Add temperature sensors and microcontroller for automated fan/Peltier modulation. Manufacturing Partnerships: License CoolCap clips to helmet makers for integrated factory-fit solutions.
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