Introduction and Background Information An injury that some mountaineers are prone to is a tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and/or meniscus due to stress on a person’s knees as they climb. Downhill hiking is the major cause of knee injuries like this because more pressure is placed on the joints of the knees when descending. Over time, repeated stress on the ankles, knees, and hips may cause irritation and inflammation, which may ultimately lead to injury. While there are many products on the market that could be used as mountaineering descent aids (sleds, ski bobs, and sit skis), for our client, none of these solutions seem to capture the essence of the sport of skiing; something that our client would like to preserve. Our design focus is to build a device that serves two purposes for our client; our design allows the rider to descend without exacerbating an existing injury, and our design preserves the essence of the sport of skiing. Mission Statement The goal of the Portland State University (PSU) Ski Traverse Capstone team is to create a ski device that will allow a hiker to descend down a snow capped mountain. It was also an important consideration for the client to have a sporty feel while using the device. Design parameters are based upon a rider who is 5’1” and weighs 150 lbs. The ski device will have to be able to carry a minimum load of 180 lbs, and it can weigh no more than 20 lbs. The completion date for a prototype is June 4th. The device should create a new approach for descending down a snow capped mountain in a fun and effective way. The ski traverse is to be small and lightweight to give a rider maximum control and prevent injuries in the event that an accident occurs. Main Design Requirements The product design specifications prescribe the requirements of the design. The PDS includes a goal that is to be met for each requirement, allowing the team to assess the progress of the design ensuring that the project is heading in the right direction to meet or exceed the
Introduction and Background Information An injury that some mountaineers are prone to is a tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and/or meniscus due to stress on a person’s knees as they climb. Downhill hiking is the major cause of knee injuries like this because more pressure is placed on the joints of the knees when descending. Over time, repeated stress on the ankles, knees, and hips may cause irritation and inflammation, which may ultimately lead to injury. While there are many products on the market that could be used as mountaineering descent aids (sleds, ski bobs, and sit skis), for our client, none of these solutions seem to capture the essence of the sport of skiing; something that our client would like to preserve. Our design focus is to build a device that serves two purposes for our client; our design allows the rider to descend without exacerbating an existing injury, and our design preserves the essence of the sport of skiing. Mission Statement The goal of the Portland State University (PSU) Ski Traverse Capstone team is to create a ski device that will allow a hiker to descend down a snow capped mountain. It was also an important consideration for the client to have a sporty feel while using the device. Design parameters are based upon a rider who is 5’1” and weighs 150 lbs. The ski device will have to be able to carry a minimum load of 180 lbs, and it can weigh no more than 20 lbs. The completion date for a prototype is June 4th. The device should create a new approach for descending down a snow capped mountain in a fun and effective way. The ski traverse is to be small and lightweight to give a rider maximum control and prevent injuries in the event that an accident occurs. Main Design Requirements The product design specifications prescribe the requirements of the design. The PDS includes a goal that is to be met for each requirement, allowing the team to assess the progress of the design ensuring that the project is heading in the right direction to meet or exceed the
FINALREPORT_MountaineeringDescendingAssistDevice.docx