DEGREE PROJECT IN DESIGN AND PRODUCT REALISATION, SECOND CYCLE, 30 CREDITS STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN 2018 Evaluating and developing Flow Motion Technology in alpine skiing LINN RILEGÅRD KTH ROYAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT 1 Evaluating and developing Flow Motion Technology in alpine skiing Linn Rilegård Master of Science Thesis TRITA-ITM-EX 2018:651 KTH Industrial Engineering and Management Machine Design SE-100 44 STOCKHOLM 2 3 Examensarbete TRITA-ITM-EX 2018:651 Utvärdering och utveckling av Flow Motion Technology för alpinskidor Linn Rilegård Godkänt Examinator Handledare 2018-12-22 Claes Tisell Stefan Björklund Uppdragsgivare Kontaktperson Flow Motion Technology AB Fredrik Andersson Sammanfattning Alpinskidåkning är indelat i ett flertal sportgrenar, så som slalom, storslalom, freeride och störtlopp. Inom aplinskidåkning är tid en viktig faktor. Under tävling kämpar deltagarna såväl mot varandra som mot klockan, varje hundradels sekund räknas. Utrustning och teknologi utvecklas konstant för att ligga i framkant och förbättras för att få skidåkare att nå allt bättre resultat. I det här examensarbetet implementeras en teknik som kallas Flow Motion Technology i skidor för alpin åkning. Produkten utvecklas och utvärderas. Flow Motion Technology AB är ett företag stationerat i Östersund som har utvecklat en teknologi som nu används i ishockey- och skate-produkter. Denna teknologi är patenterad och företaget är intresserade av att undersöka möjliga sportgrenar där denna princip kan implementeras. I detta examensarbete har teknologin implementerats i slalomskidor, testats samt utvecklats. Arbetet ska svara mot följande frågeställning; Finns det tillräckligt med potential och fördelar med implementering av Flow Motion Technology i alpin skidor för att kunna rekommendera företaget att investera i framtida utveckling för detta? Resultatet av examensarbetet var att tester som gjorts krävde mer avancerad utrustning för att fullständigt besvara frågan. Om testerna genomförs med bättre utrustning kan mer korrekta resultat utläsas och utvärderas. Resultatet av projektet blir därför att ingen rekommendation rörande om företaget bör fortsätta investera i en alpin platta med FMT i, kan ges. Om fler tester görs, med bättre utrustning kan korrekt data erhållas och en analys kan göras på en bättre grund. 4 5 Master of Science Thesis TRITA-ITM-EX 2018:651 Evaluating and developing Flow Motion Technology in alpine skiing Linn Rilegård Approved Examiner Supervisor 2018-12-22 Claes Tisell Stefan Björklund Commissioner Contact person Flow Motion Technology AB Fredrik Andersson Abstract Alpine skiing is divided into several sports, such as slalom, freeride, giant slalom and downhill. In all these disciplines, time is an important factor. Competing against each other and against the clock makes every hundred of a second count. Equipment and technology are constantly improved to help the skier reach higher results. In this report a technology called Flow Motion Technology is implemented and evaluated in alpine skis. Flow Motion Technology AB is a company based in Östersund that developed a principle now used in ice hockey and skate products. This technology is patented and the company is interested in examining possible sports branches that this principle can be implemented in. In this Master thesis project, the principle has been implemented in slalom skiing, tested and developed. What the work is about to answer is the question that follows. Are there enough potential and benefits of implementing Flow Motion Technology in slalom skis to be able to recommend the company to invest in future development for this? The result of the degree work was that tests made in the project required more advanced equipment to answer that research question correctly. If tests are performed with better equipment, more accurate data could be received and analyzed. The answer of the research question could therefore not be answered in this report. The recommendation to Flow Motion Technology could not be presented without further tests and analyzes. 6 7 FOREWORD I would like to thank Fredrik Andersson and the rest of the team of Flow Motion Technology, for support and guidance. I would also like to thank Stefan Björklund for supervision during the project and for reviewing the report. During the project, a lot of people helped me with knowledge and guidance. I would like to send a special thanks to Tomas Östberg, for help with manufacturing of prototypes, Malin Åkermo for discussions concerning concepts and carbon fibre and Per Wennhagen for help with tests at KTH. Linn Rilegård Stockholm, August 2018 8 9 NOMENCLATURE Abbreviations and terms CAD Computer Aided Design FMT Flow Motion Technology (A technology patented by the company Flow Motion Technology AB) Marsblade Brand providing inlines and ice-hockey skates with FMT 10 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 1 Flow motion Technology .................................................................................................... 1 What is Flow Motion Technology? .................................................................................... 1 Why Flow Motion Technology? ......................................................................................... 3 1.3 Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 3 1.5 Delimitations .................................................................................................................... 4 1.6 Method .............................................................................................................................. 4 2 FRAME OF REFERENCE ..................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Product development ........................................................................................................ 5 Alpha prototypes ................................................................................................................. 5 Patents ................................................................................................................................. 6 Sustainability ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Alpine equipment ............................................................................................................. 7 State-of-the-art .................................................................................................................... 7 3 IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................. 9 3.1 Prototype development ..................................................................................................... 9 First loop of prototype development ................................................................................... 9 Areas of improvements ..................................................................................................... 11 Ideation and concept generation ....................................................................................... 12 Second loop of prototype development ............................................................................ 13 3.2 Tests ................................................................................................................................ 14 Test A - Feel while skiing ................................................................................................. 14 Test B – Vibration I .......................................................................................................... 15 Test C - Contact ................................................................................................................ 17 Test D – Vibration II ......................................................................................................... 18 Test E – Vibration III ........................................................................................................ 18 3.3 Equipment and measurement tools ................................................................................. 21 Hardware used in tests ...................................................................................................... 21 Software used in tests ........................................................................................................ 23 12 4 RESULTS .............................................................................................................................. 25 4.1 Final prototype ................................................................................................................ 25 Material ............................................................................................................................. 25 Manufacturing ................................................................................................................... 26 Design and functionality ................................................................................................... 26 Mounting part ...................................................................................................................