Here's a little something you might be interested in. I finished this film 6 months ago but for all sorts of reasons couldn't release it until now.
This is about a project my friend Sean Rose and I have been working on over the last 2 years, to design a snowkite buggy that works by weight shifting
rather than foot steering. As a result it can be used by people with spinal injuries.
This film documents our first proper testing session in Iceland earlier this year. Sean is the rider - he's paralysed from the waist down:
Hope you like it. Cheers, Kieron.Kieron - 21-12-2012 at 12:42 PM
I designed & made the first prototype, but Sean picked it up from there and ran with it - he's designed two new versions that improve on the
original concept enormously.erratic winds - 21-12-2012 at 01:03 PM
hahaa, 80/20 building materials! Love it! That stuff truly is the Industrial Erector Set for Adults!
You should send them this video, they absolutely love seeing what people have built with their stuff!
Amazing work as always, Kieron!abkayak - 21-12-2012 at 01:07 PM
you guys can come up w/ that.........great, really great. i cant even get the video to playsnowspider - 21-12-2012 at 01:18 PM
Very nice! Why are you not using a wider spacing on the skis? I use a much shorter attachment point where I mount the rig to the ski , it allows
more flex in the ski and the rig turns a short radius even at the wide spacing (I think mine are 42" oc). Don't worry about inside needing a shorter
radius vs outside , I'm guessing its all self adjusting and even if its not you'll never feel the difference (turn arrounds are slow and the surface
is slippery)
You got yourself a serious GOFAST machine , have fun!!!!!!!!!!Kieron - 21-12-2012 at 01:29 PM
We went with a narrow stance because the rig becomes much heavier with a wide base.
The weight is critical because the guys need to be able to move when they're not using a kite. Having a narrow stance helps the rider to move around
camp - bear in mind that this is designed for people who don't have the use of their legs, so they can't hop in and out of the rig. Moving around camp
needs to be possible with their arms & outriggers and it's just too difficult to do with a base much wider than 24" (we're actually able to vary
the width of the base between 12" and about 30").Feyd - 21-12-2012 at 05:00 PM
Interesting. Just curious, not that I think a standard sit-ski would be better but did you try a kite with a regular sit ski? If so how did that
perform.
I'm really impressed with how you managed to get the edge angles dialed. I see your point about being mobile in cam and wide stance hinderence. I
gotta say watching the unused outriggers skipping along is a little unnerving to me.
Very cool. Super impressed that it's the first incarnation and the results are so good. Must really be exciting.
Sharing the heck out of the vid. And the music, awesome.Kieron - 21-12-2012 at 05:29 PM
We did try a normal sit-ski first and it was hopeless. The centre of gravity is far too high, which meant that the rider was immediately over-powered
and face-planted down-wind, and they would immediately fall over when the wind droped - we went dual ski, low cog, to give them the ability to counter
the power of the kite better, and remain upright when stationary.Kieron - 21-12-2012 at 05:31 PM
Yes, the outriggers were a bit of a concern, but we found that as they became more experienced, the riggers were unnecessary - we will stow them
somewhere to allow their use when not kiting.Feyd - 21-12-2012 at 08:16 PM
Yeah, I imagine the sit ski does have a fairly high COG. Not bad if you are moving but an issue at the critical moment at start. Heheh yup the
outriggers were looking pretty sketch skippin along there.snowspider - 22-12-2012 at 11:21 PM
Once pointed out , the going wide and keeping it light issues are obvious. I did a very short trial with weight shift seat steering and found it
presented some challenges. It must have been a ball buster for the guys to put it all together and get to where they had some decent runs.Scudley - 28-12-2012 at 10:22 AM
Kieron, is your design proprietary or will you let others clone if for own use and not profit? Dirtslide would love to go kite skiing. Any chance
you could send him, or me, some of the details?
I am not disabled, physically at least, but have really wide feet. (Getting them into ski boots is a problem; wearing them for any length of time
usually excruciating if not crippling.) Could this be an alternative for those wanting a snow buggy?
SKieron - 28-12-2012 at 01:50 PM
Hey Scudley, were it just my work I'd happily give you plans for non-profit use, but I designed & made this with my friend Sean. I'll ask him and
let you know. Cheers, KieronBladerunner - 29-12-2012 at 11:40 AM
Kieron,
Great job!
I would like to put my name behind Dirtslide. You may have met him at NABX ? He was the pioneer of our group. Introducing us to to skatewing and all
sorts of new things Pre accident. He is extremely creative and with Scudley's help they can do the job right. They can be trusted not to try and go
commercial with your ideas. Ken is a natural who will be able to make the most out of combining the snowbuggy and kites. He has a lot more leg
strength than some others in chairs but that should be an advantage ? Not to mention what a hoot it would be to get out there snowkiting with
D'sliddy !
P.S. that full on Mechano stuff is the answer to a big boys dreams ! Scudley - 31-12-2012 at 10:51 AM
Thanks Kieron, let me know what the other Sean has to say. Bladerunner, thanks for the second: it would be awesome to get out snowkiting with
dirtslide.
S
And of course the thought that I get to play with it too never entered my mind. It is pure altruism.erratic winds - 31-12-2012 at 11:17 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner
P.S. that full on Mechano stuff is the answer to a big boys dreams !
The company is 80/20 and MY GOD you can build anything with it.
We use it to build new robotics at our manufacturing plant.
I am eager to see the finished versions of these, as well as any dirtslide version!
