Kholoud Bashayan

First Arab winner of the World Intellectual Property Organization's "Best Woman Inventor" award for pushing the boundaries of engineering and innovation

Pushing the boundaries of engineering and innovation

Meet Kholoud

Education: 24-year-old alumna of the prestigious University of California, the leading number one academic institution in utility patents. She graduated with two Bachelor of Science degrees in Aerospace Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

Research Focus and Humaniatarian Impact: She utilizes human-centered engineering and takes a humanitarian approach to technology, aiming to help keep individuals safe during natural disasters. Kholoud conducted impactful research and developed various patented inventions that bridge disaster recovery, biomedical engineering, sustainable manufacturing, and aerospace. As an ex-founder of Golden Horizons in 2019, Kholoud wanted to spread the knowledge of patent writing and ineventions to young inventors in the Middle East.

Kholoud's journey began long before college. At just 14 in 2016, in her commitment to humanity and to alleviate suffering, she invented a solar-powered, levitating hoverboard that is equipped with landmine detectors to allow for safe landmine detection without the loss of limbs. This invention was granted a patent by the Saudi Authority For Intellectual Property (Saudi Patent office).

In 2018, as a researcher at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Kholoud developed a wearable smart skin patch capable of monitoring temperature and pH levels through human sweat, further expanding her commitment to human-centered engineering and innovative sensing technologies.

In 2019, Kholoud developed a first-of-its-kind hybrid flying vehicle designed to operate at low altitude, making it simple and accessible to use—similar to riding an electric scooter. The system combines solar energy, electric batteries, and a chemical reaction that generates oxygen, which is used to enhance propulsion through electric fans, inspired by concepts used in aerospace applications such as those in NASA. By integrating three energy sources into a single gasoline-free design, the vehicle offers a unique, eco-friendly approach to transportation while reducing emissions. The invention was granted a patent by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, recognizing its originality and impact to the engineering field.

Kholoud expanded this concept to focus on humanitarian relief in addition to environmental impact, developing a novel compact flying vehicle powered by solar energy. The system integrates an onboard oxygen generator that supports propulsion and provides breathable oxygen during emergencies, delivered through a mask to protect the operator from hazardous pulmonary agents—making it suitable for high-risk environments such as active war zones. Designed for military and rescue applications, the vehicle enables the location and assistance of survivors while ensuring operator safety. This innovation was recognized for its novelty and impact, with patents granted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (2020), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (2021), and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (2022).

Today, Kholoud holds a total of five patents granted by leading authorities, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, German Patent and Trade Mark Office, Saudi Patent Office, and Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

IIn 2023, Kholoud advanced the use of additive manufacturing in medicine by developing a highly realistic, patient-specific 3D-printed human stomach replica for endoscopy training, enabling safer, more accessible hands-on learning for medical students while reducing reliance on animal testing and costly clinical resources, and further exemplifying her sustained record of applying innovative engineering solutions to address critical humanitarian challenges in healthcare. Her work was selected for publication by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and she was invited to present at the International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, where she showcased her work applying innovative engineering solutions to humanitarian challenges in healthcare and environmental sustainability. Currently, many medical students at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany are utilizing Kholoud's models to train for endoscopy.

In 2024-25, as a researcher at the Manufacturing and Sustainable Technologies Laboratory, Kholoud developed a mobile, solar-powered additive manufacturing hub, where 3-d printers are placed on trucks, to produce life-saving biomedical equipment for individuals injured or affected by natural disasters in rural, electricity-limited regions, bringing medical equipment manufactured on the spot directly to communities when they need it most. Kholoud’s work was selected for publication by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, she was invited to present at the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, and she was awarded a highly competitive Seed Grant for International Activities by University of California, Davis Global Affairs for leading a transformative, interdisciplinary research collaboration with global impact.

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5+

International Granted Patents

Internationally-prestigious Awards

Gallery

Snapshots from my engineering journey and inventions.