Student wins award for invention

Reem Alattas, who is earning a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering at the University of Bridgeport, has invented an advanced bike helmet and, in so doing, won $12,000 at the CT Next Entrepreneur Innovator Competition, including a $10,000 Grand Prize and the $2,000 Judges”™ Favorite Award.

Alattas was one of just two student-entrepreneurs to advance to the final rounds of the recent competition held at The Space in Hamden. It was sponsored by CT Next, the early-stage division of Connecticut Innovations, the state”™s business-financing arm.

“I can”™t believe it. I was competing against professionals. I didn”™t have friends or family with me last night, but I felt the support from the UB faculty who were there,” said Alattas, who named her helmet Rumble.

Rumble includes GPS tracking, an alert system that warns cyclists when traffic gets too close and directional signals operated by the tap of a button. 

Alattas has been working on the bike helmet for about three years. A manufacturing prototype is being built with an eye toward bringing it to market next year.