Pointers Interaction between sensors and actuators will create the 'perfect ski' for all snow conditions The technology has applications in other industries such as automotive and buildings The future may see a self-powered version which utilises piezo-electrics
Picking up good vibrations
Mark Fletcher looks at a technology developed for skiers which could have an impact on a number of others industries
By measuring the vibrations created when skiing on different snow types, a university spin-off company has developed a technology that will allow skis to adapt to different snow types – offering the skier the best all-round performance.
The skis use an array of sensors to measure the vibrations induced by the different piste conditions. Then, through a central controller, actuators are used to vary the stiffness of the ski and provide semi-active damping – providing the perfect skis for the conditions.
The design uses "two new top-secret materials" which help surpass the performance offered by existing 'intelligent skis'. The company is unwilling at this stage to divulge its "top-secret" technology" but says it is workign with two manufacturers in France.
As the technology matures, Scottish-based ReacTec sees no reason why its idea could not offer significant benefits to other users of composite materials, especially those which have to cater for a variety of environmental or man-made conditions which could have an adverse effect on the materials performance. Further applications suggested by ReacTec, using its technology for resonance control, include: the automotive industry, civil engineering, for controlling vibrations in buildings; and other sports such as golf, where it envisions personalised golf clubs.
When skiing, conditions vary due to a number of factors, the predominant one being the time of day. When skiing in the morning the snow is often icy due to overnight low temperatures and is therefore hard; for these conditions a skier would need stiffer skis. Later in the day, when the snow softens up, a softer, more flexible ski is needed. Really serious skiers will often change skis as the conditions change, ReacTec's technology, however, will remove this need.
ReacTec's Peter Watson says: "When you-re skiing down a slope and the edges begin to slip too much, you either have to back off or fall over. What our technology does is to allow the ski to change stiffness as well as vibration. We are using the stiffness to control the amount of deflection and semi-active damping to control the vibration." The skis will also lower fatigue levels as the skiers will have to 'fight' less with the conditions.
It will be a few seasons yet before skiers will be able to take advantage of the technology as ReacTec is looking for more funding, on top of an initial Edinburgh Technology Fund grant of £5,000, to take the idea further forward, with a spate of recent awards helping it on its way. Further developments envisioned by the company include using the vibration as the power source by integrating piezo-electric devices to create the current to drive the actuators.
ReacTec
