DESIGN NAME: Float Rower
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Indoor Rowing Machine
INSPIRATION: Float Rower is based on the idea that existing rowing machines do not provide a realistic experience for rowers and because of this are unable to exercise many of the key muscle groups that rowers need to develop. The ideal solution is a rowing machine that behaves as if it were on water and responds to all the many inputs and actions that rowers would normally impart. A much better training aid for rowers and a vastly superior work out for those just looking to exercise at home or in the gym.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Float Rower creates the experience of floating and rowing on water. Its innovative and unique float and roll system brings the sensation of being on the water, to dry land. Built onto an elegant chassis, the floating and rolling monorail, resistance mechanism and seat give you the sensation of sitting on a rowing racing boat and improve technical training and develop greater strength and core stability. Float Rower has two fully independent resistance mechanisms to develop rowing technique simultaneously with strength, fitness and endurance.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Float Rower incorporates pitch and roll with a moving resistance mechanism. The seat and feet geometry align directly with those found in a rowing boat, so that all the work on land can be directly transferred when rowing on water. The sophisticated user interface features touch screen technology and can display and record all aspects of a rowers input, including stroke length, left and right power, pitch and roll. Multiple units can be connected by linking the float and roll parts to row as a crew whilst the wireless displays allow individual or a whole crew performance to be compared.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: Proposition work started in April 2014, research test rigs were designed and tested during 2014 leading to an initial prototype being tested in April 2015. Further development and a refined prototype was completed in August 2016 for evaluation and testing. All design work was conducted in the UK.
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The production version of Float Rower is an amalgamation of custom aluminium extrusions, CNC fabricated aluminium tubes, aluminium castings, injection mouldings and large RIM mouldings. The materials, processes and design details have been selected to satisfy mechanical strength requirements whilst optimising the solutions for the lightest weight, within commercially acceptable cost constraints.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Dimensions: 2270 x 460 x 886mm. Maximum user weight 150 kg. Maximum stroke length 1800m. Display 8" LCD Colour Screen
TAGS: Rowing, training, fitness, Erg, Ergo, Gym, Sport, Sports app, iOS, Android
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: The project began in a design workshop to explore unmet needs in the general area of rowing machines. The workshop included an expert rower and the initial ideas emerged from a sharing of different experiences, leading to possible innovations based on a rower's idealised wish list. User insight research was conducted to build on the original proposition, resulting in a specification that included other training related requirements. Subsequent research was based on validating the right experiences from a wide cross section of rowers with different standards, genders and ages.
CHALLENGE: The primary creative challenge was to create the experience of rowing on water via a mechanical simulation system that also reacts to rower input. Following initial research into the important perceptions of rowing experiences, the challenge was to balance these expectations against realistic manufacturing costs. The research challenge was to identify key user groups and record their insights following trials. This iterative approach involved considerable effort in developing and honing reactive sub systems to mimic complex natural feedbacks.
ADDED DATE: 2017-02-15 14:35:53
TEAM MEMBERS (5) : Matthew Brown (LA Design), Benn Klewpatinond (LA Design), Simon Wilkinson (LA Design), Anthony Hamilton (Float Rower) and
IMAGE CREDITS: All images LA Design
PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS: UK patent pending GB1521545.2. Filed 2015. Jurisdiction: UK
PCT patent pending PCT/EP2016/055167. Filed 2016 (priority date 2015). Jurisdiction: International
European Community Registered Design 001431746-0001. Registered 2015. Jurisdiction: European Community
European Community Registered Design 001431746-0002. Registered 2015. Jurisdiction: European Community
European Community Registered Design 001431746-0003. Registered 2015. Jurisdiction: European Community
European Community Registered Design 001431746-0003. Registered 2015. Jurisdiction: European Community
European Community Registered Design 003279769-0001. Registered 2016. Jurisdiction: European Community
European Community Registered Design 003279769-0002. Registered 2016. Jurisdiction: European Community
European Community Registered Design 003279769-0003. Registered 2016. Jurisdiction: European Community
Chinese Design Patent pending 201730001800.X. Filed 2017 (priority date 2016). Jurisdiction: China
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