A Red Deer boy’s passion for creating electronic devices has led him to making a very unique helmet.
Joseph Lewis, 11, has created a battery-powered device, which he calls Helmet 3000. The device has several features you wouldn’t expect to see on a regular helmet, including a phone charger, flashlight, radio and even air conditioning.
“I used cardboard, tape, electrical tape, duct tape, electronics I got from my dad’s boss and a few electronics I had lying around,” said Lewis.
Last summer Lewis, who is heading into Grade 6 at Central Middle School, created a satellite transceiver and has finished a project or two since then.
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“I just wanted to build something because I hadn’t built anything in a long time,” he said when asked why he created his latest project.
Sarah Lewis, Joseph’s mother, said she’s always amazed by her son’s projects.
“With most of the stuff (Joseph builds), I have no idea what he’s doing. I’ll say, ‘Oh I’ve got to read up on this,’” she said with a laugh.
In a previous interview with The Advocate, Lewis said his passion for building and electronics began with Snap Circuits, which is a line of electronic kits, manufactured by Elenco Electronics, that are geared for children.
The helmet’s flashlight is on the front of the helmet, which has a visor made of real glass, and a fan in the back ensures he stays cool while wearing it. Additionally, there’s a rag on the roof of the helmet, to make sure his head is comfortable inside.
Lewis said Helmet 3000 also has the ability to make a sound that only dogs can hear to scare them off and is able to jam radios.
“I built it in about two days and I’ve been adding on to it all of this week and I think last week too,” he said.
Lewis said he wants to build an airplane in the future.
David Lewis, Joseph’s father, had previously told The Advocate that his son has been interested in electronics since he was very young – he recalled Joseph had already begun drawing schematics in Grade 1.
“This is what he really seems to go after. I’m not surprised by his capacity to learn,” David said in an August 2021 story.
Joseph has two siblings: Abigail and Jonathan.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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