Richard Parks 48 Hour Project
Richard Parks, An extreme endurance Athlete, Ex- international rugby player and world record holder. A once in a lifetime client that our university had the pleasure to work with.
In 2011 Richard parks set the world record for summiting the highest mountain on every continent, and skiing to the North and South Pole, all in less than one calendar year.
THE BRIEF FOR THE PROJECT
The brief was to redesign Richard’s Antarctic sled for another upcoming expedition to the South Pole, and it was my first opportunity to work with students across all the year groups on the course.
My group only had 48 hours to complete this project. As team leader, This involved quick creative thinking, team work, clear leadership and imaginative thinking.
PROBLEM 1: STORAGE
Current storage fabric flaps around din the wind and creates drag for Richard, making the bulk harder to pull.
SOLUTION:
These compartments are made of flexible neoprene. This means each compartment can stretch, meaning the material will be tight to the equipment that's inside the sled. This means there is reduced drag as no extra fabric can catch the wind.
TRACTION:
These fins can be installed to gain better control of the sled on side when travelling across slopes. When exploring remote places such as the south pole, the ground is very uneven.
Huge snow drifts mean the sledge Is constantly travelling up and down hills. The fins will stop the sledge from sliding out sideways on these hills and reduce the risk of injury.
Aerodynamics:
to ensure the sled cuts cleanly through the wind, reducing the drag on the bulk. the from tof the sled is fitted with a carbon fibre nose cone. This lightweight material ensures that the wind passes over and around the sled, not into it.
