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Snowboard Teaching Device with Real Time Rider Feedback

Institution: Michigan Technological University
Funders (7)
Views (1)

Why This Project Is Important 

This project aims to help the beginner/novice snowboarder progress faster. We believe that ski hills will see a greater number of repeat customers if new people coming in for lessons can progress faster in a shorter amount of time. More times than not, people can feel frustrated and overwhelmed at how hard it can be to learn how to snowboard and eventually give up. Our project is aimed at helping new snowboarders identify common bad habits many beginners have and fix these habits early to progress faster.

Project Description 

Turning and controlling a snowboard can be compared to riding a bike. To turn a bike, the rider needs to have the front wheel on the ground. Doing a wheelie (front wheel off the ground) makes it very difficult to turn a bike. If we think of the wheels of a bike like the feet of a snowboarder, the snowboard needs enough weight on their front foot to successfully make a turn. We will be placing load cells in the bindings of a snowboard to measure the weight distribution of the rider (much like a bathroom scale). To have proper positioning on a snowboard, the rider wants at least 60 percent of their weight on their front (downhill). We will also be placing a telescoping arm with a handle for the rider to grab onto to help keep their weight forward. If the load cells sense a weight distribution of at least 60/40, LEDs in the handle of the telescoping arm will light up green indicating the rider that they have proper weight distribution. If load cells sense a weight distribution less than 60/40 (59/41), the LEDs in the handle will light up red. This indicates the rider that they need to keep more weight on their front foot.

Meet the Researchers

Joshua Penrose

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Sam Gaffney

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Ibrahim Miskioglu

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Ben Jewell

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Sophie Miller

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$250
of $250 fund goal
The average donation for this project is $36
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Funding is Closed

What Your Donation Can Help Us Do: 

  • Your donation could help us purchase the best parts we need to complete our project. We want to have the best materials available to put out the best project we can.

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$75 (1/1)

Custom Printed load cell housing

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Gifts to projects listed on SUPERIORIDEAS.ORG are received and processed by Michigan Tech Fund. Michigan Tech Fund is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code acting on behalf of Michigan Technological University. It is the policy of Michigan Tech Fund that a portion of the gifts and/or income therefrom may be used to defray the costs of raising and administering the funds.