HandSkates : an apparatus for physically intelligent exercise

Physical Intelligence refers to the ability of the human organism to smartly and precisely coordinate its internal components and interactions in its environment to solve physically complex tasks. While Physical Intelligence is a key part of physical movement, many pieces of physical fitness equipment fail to challenge or exercise the organism's internal intelligence. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is to design an apparatus that through performing a set of exercises, challenges and develops the body's physical intelligence. Several strategies for developing an apparatus to develop physical intelligence were considered, including an underwater treadmill and an elastic method of providing resistance while running. In the end, however, the strategy developed was the HandSkate, a handheld, low-friction device intended to train core and upper-body muscles by forcing the user to balance themselves and stabilize the HandSkates while performing simple, familiar exercises. Two concepts for the HandSkate were prototyped and tested. The first concept, the 'Boomerang' design, was prototyped from aluminum and consists of a flat, V-shaped base with a cantilevered handle.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Benjamin D. (Benjamin David), 1983-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alexander Slocum.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32925

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32925