Slingshot

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SLINGSHOT

.CATEGORY

Transportation // Exterior Concept

.WHY

Feasibility study

This bike was developed to test out newly developed techniques and materials in the field of fibre composites. To see what could be possible in a future production pipeline and how this would make designs possible, that otherwise wouldn't be possible to build.

Collaboration project between: University of the Arts Bremen and FIBRE & Fraunhofer-Institut Bremen.

In order to find new shapes for this bike and show what new fibre technologies could do, I sought ways to connect the fixed-points of a frame as elegantly as possible and finally found them in Japanese ink calligraphy (© CC-BY Chris Gladis / Ayu Nabila)

the process - working with hard-points

Built-in suspension: integrated, exible zones render mechanical shock absorbers obsolete. Cushioning is achieved via the precise placing of bre-layers and material combinations during production

INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY

Material research has made tremendous progress in the field of fibre composites in recent years and now allows for a variety of applications and designs – that conventional manufacturing methods just can not offer.

If one thinks of the flexibility of snowboards or pole vault bars, this flexibility is now possible, thanks to specifically integrate spring elements (or better: zones) into the frame. These new materials are making it possible and will irreversibly change the future of developing and producing sporting goods of all kinds.

In addition, the manufacturing methods meanwhile enable important infrastructure to be integrated during production. This reduces both manufacturing and maintenance costs since with this method completely encapsulated components arise that are safe from environmental influences and thus increased wear.

• generative design:

bone-like structures generating rigidity (down-tubes, like in diamond-frames, aren’t necessary)

• electronic shifting:

gear shift knobs next to the grips (right ↑/ left ↓)

• electronic brakes:

anti-lock brakes improve safety, grips = levers

• capsuled:

drive shaft, integrated wires & circuits, as well as ABS units are placed inside the frame and hubs