Helmet That “Sees” Risk
IoT-enabled helmets from Proteqta, a Russian company within Softline Group, are changing safety management practices on construction sites and industrial facilities. The integrated system ProteqtaAtom 4.0, developed by Proteqta (Softline Group), has now been deployed at another project run by developer Gals-Development.
The solution combines a proprietary IoT module with software that continuously monitors compliance with safety standards, tracks worker movement, detects hazardous conditions, and enables rapid incident response. When deployed, Atom 4.0 helps reduce operational risks, improve workforce discipline, and streamline workflows, while also generating data-driven insights for management decisions.
Previously, ProteqtaAtom 4.0 had already been rolled out at another Gals-Development construction site, where it sustained high labor productivity and strengthened oversight of safety compliance.
Meanwhile, Softline’s experience shows strong demand for domestic technology products in the real economy. This trend aligns with Russia’s national strategy to digitize construction and utilities through 2030. That translates into steady growth in demand for building information modeling (BIM) tools, end-to-end data lifecycle management platforms, as well as locally developed software, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things solutions.
From Prototype to Production
Softline Group (PJSC Softline), an investment and technology holding company and a leader across several segments of the tech market, structures its operations around multiple core clusters. These include developing AI systems and both custom and off-the-shelf software, manufacturing high-tech equipment such as computer systems and laser installations, designing comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, and delivering large-scale turnkey IT projects for corporate and government clients. The company is currently among the fastest-growing players in the sector, with average annual growth exceeding 23%. In 2025, its revenue surpassed 131 billion rubles (about $1.73 billion).
The prototype of the smart helmet dates back to 2016. At that time, each unit was custom-built and could take up to five months to deliver. Since the summer of 2024, Softline has moved to mass production, reducing delivery and deployment time to two weeks. In 2025, the company launched the Atom 4.0 smart helmet line. The product integrates a ROSOMZ helmet with an intelligent module featuring sensors, GPS/GLONASS, Bluetooth, an SOS button, and wireless charging. The system monitors helmet use and other personal protective equipment in real time. Its architecture connects the device to a LoRaWAN base station and a server. The platform maps routes, stores historical data, and generates reports, allowing employers to monitor operations and worker safety.
Flexible for Diverse Industrial Tasks
The Proteqta platform has proven itself as a versatile tool for industrial safety. Its flexibility allows it to work across industries with fundamentally different conditions. Since 2019, the Proteqta industrial safety system has been deployed at enterprises in Rosatom’s mining division, including Khiagda and PPGKHO named after E.P. Slavsky, as well as at SUEK subsidiary Daltransugol, the Altai salt mining company, and other sites. It is used in coal pits, thermal power plants (TPPs), mining operations, and bulk cargo terminals. For example, within a year of introducing smart helmets at Khiagda, labor productivity at the deposit increased by 10%. At the same time, improved workforce efficiency helped reduce compensation costs associated with workplace injuries.
From Import Substitution to Export
The platform has strong potential to scale not only across Russia but also internationally. Softline Group’s regional presence in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and the UAE opens up significant export opportunities. In 2024, demonstration zones were launched in Almaty and Dubai, allowing potential customers from Kazakhstan and the UAE to test Proteqta software and the Atom 4.0 personnel positioning module, which attaches to the helmet.
The emergence of solutions like ProteqtaAtom 4.0 shows that Russia’s industrial and construction tech segment is maturing. In the near term, such systems are expected to become standard for major developers, industrial operators, and contractors. Over the medium term, they are expected to integrate with video analytics, digital oversight tools, access control systems, and construction management platforms. This is expected to create a unified digital safety and monitoring environment, improving efficiency across the real economy.
