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OBJECTIVES:
You and your classmates are sports engineers assigned to develop a new triathlete shoe. Current concerns with existing equipment include a) speed of foot entry into the shoe b) ease of lacing the shoe. There is also a question regarding durability. Does a running shoe for a triathlete need to be durable? You and your team will consider several elements of engineering design to develop concepts for a new shoe.
STEPS TO FOLLOW:
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Review the information in the
background section.
(The background section
is seven pages long.
Continue to click "Next Page" to see all seven pages.)
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What factors are important in the design of a triathlete running shoe? How does this differ from a regular running shoe? Consider the following list of factors as you develop your design. For each item write down on your Engineering Worksheet 1 why
you think this factor is important or
not important to the new shoe design.
performance
environment
life in service
maintenance
cost
size
weight
aesthetic
appearance and finish
materials
quality and reliability
You may not know the answer to all of these. Simply write down the information you know, then write down questions you have and specific places where you might get the answers. For example, when considering the weight of the shoe you might investigate the following: look at web sites where you can purchase footwear to find the weight of existing shoes.
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MATERIALS:
Paper
Pencil
Engineering Worksheet 1
Engineering Worksheet 2
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What are the characteristics the end user (the athlete) feels are important
and why?
Develop a list of questions then contact a local running club, athletic
footwear store or some triathletes. Interview at least 5 individuals
knowledgeable in the triathlon and ask them what they consider important in a triathlete
running shoe.
Be sure to ask them about a) speed of foot entry into the shoe b)
ease of lacing the shoe and c) durability. Are these important factors?
Write these characteristics down on Engineering
Worksheet 2.
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With this information, sketch your shoe design. Name your new shoe design.
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