Realign
Bringing New Interfaces to Track & Field
2017
3 weeks
Realign is a pole vault pole bag that prevents athletes soreness and muscle fatigue; improving their performance and health.
Biomechanics and Design
In the pole vault, a track and the field event, athletes often carry their own bag of equipment. This is composed of pole vault poles. When loaded a bag weighs approximately 30kg and consists of a round plastic drainage pipe inside a vinyl bag.
The athlete carries this asymmetrically on one shoulder. Resulting in loading and bending the spine, torquing the neck to one side, and fatiguing muscles.
Problem Identification
01 CENTRE of Gravity
The bending of the spine can cause long term damage as well as ill-prepare the athlete for competition.
02 Overall Load
Many of the muscles used carry the bag are also needed to pole vault. The weight of the bag needs to be reduced or the load redistributed to best protect and prepare the athlete for competition.
03 Interface Design
A shape is needed that better aligns to the anatomy of the body to better improve comfort as well as intuitive.
Final Concept
01
Anatomy-specific shape and foam padding for increased comfort.
02
Centre of mass located over the spine, reducing torque on the back.
03
Lightweight materials and two different sized bags. One or two person carry each with an appropriate size and weight capacity.
Prototyping and Learnings
This project originated from observations of athletes carrying pole bags. From there it was a matter of identifying the specific problems and then beginning the process to solve them. Starting theoretical and then moving to rapid prototyping and testing allowed the project to quickly develop into a well defined outcome.
Addressing the Problems
01 CENTRE of Gravity
Starting with the problem of load distribution, several shapes were tested to find the ideal form to shift the center of gravity close to the spine, reduce the torque and bending of the back.
02 Overall Load
Using ethnographic research the average number of pole vault poles per athlete was calculated as well as the average number used per team. Resulting in the creation of an individual bag, holding 9 poles, and two person carried team sized bag, holding 15 poles. The two size options reduce athletes carrying unnecessary weight. Research was also conducted into higher weight materials.
03 Interface Design
Using anthropomorphic measurements for 50th percentile female USA olympic pole vault athletes several ideations of the final interface form were created.
Prototyping & Testing
Rough prototypes were made and tested for comfort by weighting with sand and carrying. The final form was confirmed as well as the addition of a padded interface to located at the balance point of the bag, intuitively communicating to the user how to best carry the bag. To best model the concept shape a 1/6 scale model was created using 3D printing.
