A team of three students from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has developed a concept for a wearable safety system designed to protect workers in high-risk environments, such as construction sites and heavy industry.
The device, called "ModuGuard," won first place at the 2nd Student Entrepreneurship Competition organised by the Walk AUTh Innovation Accelerator, part of the university's Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The competition took place from 20 to 22 March and involved 28 teams with 74 participants from 10 universities and 29 academic departments.
The project was created by Sofia Soupiou, a 19-year-old economics student, Fani Oikonomou, a 21-year-old architecture student, and Pantelis Siskos, a 21-year-old electrical and computer engineering student. The team developed the idea in response to safety challenges in industrial sectors, including workplace accidents, compensation costs, and difficulties in monitoring compliance with safety protocols.
ModuGuard is designed as a lightweight wearable device equipped with multiple sensors. These include air pollution sensors for dust and gases, noise sensors, high-precision GPS for incident tracking, and NFC technology to detect the use of personal protective equipment. The system transmits data to dashboards via continuous telemetry and over-the-air updates, enabling companies to monitor risks in real time and potentially prevent accidents.
The three students met through the Aristurtle student team, Aristotle University's Formula Student racing group, and had already begun developing their idea, each contributing their own expertise: Pantelis in electronics, for which he was responsible in Aristurtle; Fani in product design and ergonomics; and Sofia in the business side. Reflecting on their success, Pantelis Siskos said: "I think the elements that set us apart were the depth of the idea, the contact with the market and the real case, as well as the interdisciplinarity of our team, which covered every aspect."
The team have also conducted market research through questionnaires targeting both companies and workers in demanding environments, reporting positive feedback. The students plan to create a prototype in the near future and are considering launching a startup, citing early indications of market interest.
By Maria Mathiopoulou - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
