KZ: Congratulations on your winning design Samuel!

S: Thank you. I’m really excited to be the national prize winner of Origin’s littleBIGidea competition in my category! I didn’t expect it at all and was really shocked when it was announced, at an assembly in front of my grade.

KZ: How would you explain the Hero Helmet to K-Zoners?

S: The Hero Helmet is a device designed to stop people riding their bikes, scooters or skateboards without a helmet. Although most kids know they should wear a helmet when riding their bikes, scooters or skateboards, lots of kids still choose not to wear one when riding. With my invention, kids will be safer, and parents will be less worried.

KZ: What inspired you to create the Hero Helmet?

S: I invented the Hero Helmet because I am passionate about bike riding, scootering and skateboarding, and want to encourage other kids to wear their helmet to protect them from head injuries. I decided that something needed to be done to protect kids from head and brain injuries, and that’s where I got the idea for the Hero Helmet.

KZ: How long did the prototype take to design, and how did you make it?

S: My grandad and I started working on the prototype as soon as I entered the competition. We spent a number of weekends on the project and used a number different materials to try and develop a working prototype.

KZ: How did you feel when you found out you were one of the three winners chosen from over 1000 entries?

S: I couldn’t believe I had won and was in shock! At the same time I was really proud and excited to be given the opportunity to visit NASA.

KZ: Do you have any plans to keep inventing, or future plans for the Hero Helmet?

S: I would love to see every kid wearing a Hero Helmet one day. I’ve already created my first working prototype on a scooter, so I’d really like to keep working on my idea to see what other applications my invention could have with bikes, skateboards and other devices. Part of my idea was to develop an app that could alert parents when their kids are wearing their helmets. Technology really excites me, and I’ve never developed an app before, so I think I’d like to explore this idea a bit further.

Want to read more of our interview with Samuel, or want more news about awesome inventions? Grab the April 2020 issue of K-Zone, on sale now!