 Poster: A snowHead
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TL;DR:
I'm prototyping a battery powered climb-assist motor to help you ascend a slope. You then unclip it, throw it in a backpack and ski down. Ever tried anything like this before? Would this sort of thing interest you?
Longer version:
I prototype electronics and mechanical stuff for fun.
As a teenager I wondered about how to access remote slopes that didn't have any lifts without someone having to sit out of skiing and be a snowmobile driver. I thought about powered skis but ultimately realised that the maths didn't stack up: you'd have to lug a heavy engine and fuel around with you, or a chunky electric motor and a heavy lead acid battery. I also thought that adapting a ski to carry a motor would probably hobble the ski somewhat, spoiling the ski down.
I've since seen people propel themselves up the slopes using a microlight engine without a wing, and using these lean-on lawnmower petrol engine things. Both are chunky and would markedly affect the ski down.
Anyway, technology has progressed over the last 20 years. Lithium ion battery packs are much more energy dense, and can output higher currents so can run more powerful motors. Motors have become much smaller per watt with a 1kW brushless DC motor now easily fitting in the palm of your hand. So I thought I'd revisit my teenage idea. This time the maths do seem to stack up. A 5kg Li-ion battery pack could easily give an 90kg person 1500m of vertical climb per charge, taking into account motor efficiency, slope friction, drag losses and discharge safety margins.
I've come up with a rough design which clips onto the back of ordinary ski boots and contacts the snow. The battery pack sits in a backpack. At the top, you unclip the motors from the boots, sling them in your backpack and ski down. The total weight will probably be around 10kg.
I'm going to build a prototype and start the process of a few rounds of tweaking to get around the inevitable practical oversights.
I just wondered: would this sort of thing interest you? Have you seen or tried anything like this before?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I thought it was March the 5th, not April the 1st.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Haha! That's the idea, though less lightweight and for real.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| jmr59 wrote: |
| I thought it was March the 5th, not April the 1st. |
March is the new April, or something.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The powered rope tow is a really neat idea! I supposed the tow length per charge is limited by what total weight is comfortable to hold. It still requires the initial walk up though. They could make the battery capacity extensible with an external plug in battery pack which could go in a backpack.
The fact that they've successfully completed a kickstarter tells me that there probably is wider interest in this idea.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@michaeljtbrooks, heard of ski touring?
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@michaeljtbrooks, love the idea! Send one to Verbier and I’ll test it for you
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FAQ
