Motorized Ski Track Control for Easier Uphill Climbing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skiing equipment with sealskins is prone to deterioration, difficult to use, and requires frequent maintenance, making it unsuitable for novice users and demanding high physical effort, while integrated track systems are complex, costly, and difficult to control.
Innovation Solution
A skiing equipment design featuring self-contained tracks on each ski, powered by a motor and controlled by sensors and a unit that adjusts the sliding speed based on user input and environmental conditions, allowing easy uphill climbing and reduced physical effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealskins are used on ski bases to ensure greater grip for climbing, then gripping capability is improved, but the equipment is prone to easy deterioration and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The ski system is divided into two functional parts: a permanent ski base and a removable sealskin. The sealskin can be detached and replaced when worn, while the ski base remains intact. This segmentation allows the consumable component (sealskin) to be easily replaced without affecting the permanent structure (ski), resolving the contradiction between grip reliability and service life.
2Ease of operation
If sealskins with oriented textile fibers are used to interfere with snow cover for forward movement, then climbing capability is improved, but the equipment becomes difficult and extremely demanding to use, requiring considerable physical effort
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical action of kicking and stepping with sealskins is replaced by an automated motorized system. The motor-driven track mechanism automatically propels the ski forward during climbing, substituting the user's physical effort with an automated mechanical system, thereby improving ease of operation while reducing energy consumption.
3Reliability
If sealskins are applied to ski bases to enable climbing, then gripping is improved, but the application process becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the climbing function into a removable sealskin component that can be independently applied and removed. This segmentation allows for simplified application and removal processes compared to permanent integration, as the sealskin can be attached and detached without complex procedures, resolving the contradiction between gripping reliability and application ease.
4Ease of operation
If tracks with motorized movement are integrated into skis to facilitate uphill climbing, then climbing ease is improved, but the device complexity increases due to track movement motor control
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized track system is designed to operate autonomously based on simple user input. The controller automatically manages track movement, speed, and coordination without requiring complex user intervention or specialized skills. This self-service approach reduces operational complexity while maintaining ease of use, resolving the contradiction between climbing ease and device complexity.
5Ease of operation
If motorized tracks are integrated into skis for uphill climbing, then climbing capability is improved, but construction complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized track system is designed as a modular assembly that can be attached to the ski base. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing and assembly, as the complex motorized components are contained within discrete modules rather than requiring integration throughout the entire ski structure, resolving the contradiction between climbing capability and construction simplicity.
6Ease of operation
If motorized tracks are integrated into skis, then climbing ease is improved, but maintenance complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized track system is designed as a modular assembly with discrete components that can be independently accessed and maintained. This segmentation allows for simplified maintenance procedures, as individual components can be serviced or replaced without affecting the entire system, resolving the contradiction between climbing ease and maintenance complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and efficient uphill climbing for novice users with reduced physical effort and simplified maintenance, while maintaining control over track movement.
Implementation Method 1
a motorized mover with sensors to control the track's sliding speed
Implementation Method 2
sensors to control the track's sliding speed based on user input and environmental conditions
Implementation Method 3
a base made of graphite... since the sliding on snow is allowed by the formation of a thin film of water
Implementation Method 4
wax, i.e., a layer of wax or other material used to raise the freezing point of water under the ski
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Skiing equipment (1) is provided, comprising two skis (3), each of which with a base body (31), a fastening group (32) of a binding (3d, 3e) to the base body (31); a track (4) closed around the base body (31); a mover (5) of the said track (4) around the base body (31); sensors configured to detect a movement of said ski (3) relative to said ground (1a); and a control unit (6) of said mover (5) of each of said skis (3) and thus the sliding of said track (4) around said base body (31) based on said movement of said ski (3) relative to said ground (1a).