Adaptive Adjustable Wakeboarding System

1
Adaptive Adjustable Wakeboarding System Lorielle
Alter1, Cory Gerken2, Lauren Mitchell3, Nick
Pilkington2, Katy Serowka1 Advisors Dr. Paul
King1, Dr. Mark Richter Together with MAX
mobility, Nashville, TN Department of Biomedical
Engineering1, Department of Mechanical
Engineering2, Department of Computer Engineering3
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Design Description
Material Selection
Problem Statement
In setting out to design our adaptive adjustable
wakeboarding system it was important that it was
easily compatible with all standard wakeboards.
To meet this criteria we began by modeling the
base of the system on the current binding system
for wakeboards. These two circular aluminum
plates allow for the board to flex and maintain
its natural concavity.
Frame 6063 Aluminum Highly corrosion
resistant, good machining and
welding properties Shock Cane Creek
AD-12 Air Shock Excellent adjustability for
individual styles of use, completely sealed and
low maintenance Padding Ethafoam 220 Firm
enough to keep rider in place while soft enough
to provide a high level of comfort Siding
High-Density Polyethylene Stiffness provides
quick release with enough flexibility to
snugly mold to the riders thighs
Currently adaptive water sport enthusiasts only
have one option, the Quickie Kanski, to
participate in wakeboarding. With a growing
interest in the sport there is a need for new
equipment because the process of mounting the
Kanski cage on wakeboards is creating a myriad of
problems. Our goal is to design a adaptive
wakeboarding system that can easily attach to any
standard wakeboard and provide the user with a
more comfortable ride and softer landings when
performing jumps.
Cost to Manufacture
Materials and Production Costs Materials and Production Costs
Aluminum Tubing and Plating 124.00
Shock Absorber and Shock Pump 175.00
Seat Supplies (foam padding, nylon covers, straps) 44.00
Hardware (bolts, nuts, pins, etc.) 18.00
Wakeboard 160.00
Welding 150.00
Assembly 90.00
Total Cost 761.00
Profit (45) 341.00
Consumer Price 1102.00
Background
Participation in physically active recreational
activities is a key factor in the health and
quality of life of people with disabilities.
Regular physical activity provides substantial
health, psychological and social benefits for
those disabled.

• Overview of Current Problems
• The cage must be taken from the Kanski and
  adapted to the wakeboard. The rigid design of
  the cage causes the natural concavity of the
  board to change and stress concentrations to form
  leading ultimately to board failure.
• The cage is completely rigid causing a
  substantial amount of impact on the back and body
  of the user
• The cage is uncomfortable for users.
• The foot-hold system does not effectively and
  safely transfer from the Kanski to the wakeboard.

Next it was important to provide adjustability
for the users in terms of body size and
experience level. We accomplished this by adding
telescoping legs in the front of the frame along
with a pinned mounting of the shock in the back
of the frame that allowed for vertical
adjustment. The seat was an important factor in
the design. It needed to be comfortable and hold
the user in the cage. After testing we found that
a form-fitting seat made from Ethafoam with a
ratcheting hip strap was the best solution to
keep the user secure and comfortable. Lastly and
most importantly we added a suspension system to
the design. This air shock located in the rear
of the frame is used to absorb the impacts on the
users body, that come from jumping, which
normally would have been felt on the spine.
Conclusion
Design Process
With the revision and completion of our first
prototype we have successfully met our goal of
designing and creating an adaptive adjustable
wakeboarding system. The testing has produced
good results and the feedback from the users has
been positive. With each testing session we were
able to learn more about our design and how to
refine it to a more advanced stage. Through the
design process it became clear that the seat
design required the most refining so that all of
the components could work together to provide the
best ride for the user.

• Evaluate the current Kanski
• Interview current users and get feedback
• Preliminary design sketches
• First design mock-up
• Redesign sketches
• First fuctioning prototype
• Testing and evaluation on the water
• Redesign of welding supports and seating system
• 2nd testing and evaluation on the water
• 2nd redesign of the seating system
• 3rd testing and evaluation on the water
• Finalize the prototype with user feedback

Existing Products and Cost
Future Considerations
First Design Mock-up
With the success of the design and positive
feedback throughout testing, we are developing a
marketing strategy.  Two paths of action are
being explored  manufacturing and selling the
design through MAX mobility, or presenting the
design, test results, and market plan to
manufacturers of adaptive sports equipment such
as the monoski.  To protect our work we will
apply for a patent through the United States
Patent and Trademark Office.

• Quickie Kanski - 1800
• U.S. Patent Number 4,865,572

Standard Wakeboard - 160
Acknowledgements
Final Design Sketch
Russell Rodriguez Rocky LeBlanc Phil
Davis