Inspiration for Springblade
Runner Specific Prosthesis
This amazing, life-changing technology inspired Springblade. Zero moving parts. Light weight. Unbelievable strength & durability. Only looks dainty. Flex & energy absorption. Zero maintenance. Long life. Simple.
Springblade Advantage
Six 1m wide Nitinol Blades =wide stable stance. Solid-state Damping = no extra moving parts. Minimal space stowed under Skirt = zero drag. Individually adjustable = levels ship or lift 2 legs to test (crucial!), repair or replace leg in-between. Simple & Redundant. Light, shape memory Nitinol & Titanium alloys.
Simple design, easy adoption
Works with existing hard-point structures = minimum redesign. When stowed, Top Bar/top edge of Blade held tight in a simple & light Friction Brace formed into the existing wall structure.
"No part is the best part, no process is the best process.” -Elon
No drag, stows under Skirt
"No part is best part" drives this design. No heavy & complex hinges, actuators, pistons, shafts, aero-covers or foot pads found on legacy designs. Blade = 1m wide, 4.2m long, 40mm thick. Holds/parks Ship 2m off the surface = safer take-off from Moon or Mars, and better for overall access & maintenance of systems under the Skirt.
One moving part
Essentially, the only part that moves is the pre-curved Nitinol Blade. Titanium Rolling Mechanism has 4 redundant electric motors & 5 Rolling Pins that hold Blade under tension. Blades simply roll out & lock in place.
Blade flex = Solid state damping
Blade alloy, curve & angle will be calibrated to provide repeatable controlled & forgiving shock absorption, no bounce, no crush zones needed. Low/no maintenance between flights.
Rolling Mechanism
4 electric motors & 9 Rolling Pins hold Blade under tension & simply roll in/out in seconds. Any 2 motors can deploy & stow Blade. Disassemble & reassemble Rolling Mech & Blade in 1 hour.
Rolling Mech Hinges to Lift Blade
4 redundant Lift Jacks inside the Jack House. 7cm of lift at Rolling Mech gives 42cm of lift at tip of Blade. Lift two legs to test, repair, or replace leg in between. Spare Blades stow under Skirt.
Multi-layered variants
Sandwich layered & Leaf-spring layered Blades. We are also working on several other variations of the sleek & sturdy Bladed leg concept.