Week 0: Plan and sketch a potential final project
Innovative, fun, and suitable to apply all the different techniques and machines we are going to learn in fabacademy. These are the reasons why I choose this idea to develop as a final project.
With the increasing efficiency of the batteries and electric motors, nowadays it's possible to carry enough energy to supply a powerful motor and a caterpillar track, and mount them on a ski blade to propel us trough the snow.
The idea is to mount a motor and a caterpillar track on both ski blades. The battery could be on the blades or on the back of the skier. Initially I think it's better for the blades to be as light as possible, so the initial proposal is to put the battery on a backpack. The controller is in one of the pole's handle, connected to the motor through the battery.
Open questions:
- What is this for? To travel on flat surfaces or to break free from ski lifts?
- ¿Battery at the back or on the blades?
- Do I need to include a suspension system for the caterpillar track? And a height regulator?
- is it possible to make the caterpillar track casting rubber?
- One controller for each motor or one controller for both?
- The controller on the backpack or on the blades?
- How long it has to be the caterpillar track to have a good grip?
- Possible injuries and safety risks
- How to make it easy to assemble and disassemble?
Design Methodology:
My plan is to use a design methodology to answer this questions, including a questionnaire for different users.
Vision in Product Design of DELFT methodology
Sketches:
Some examples on the market:
Elyly snow scooter
Envo Snobike conversion kit
Skizee
