Design of an actively controlled snow ski release binding

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Engineering
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Lower extremity injuries are common in skiing.
• Current ski bindings may not adequately prevent specific injuries like tibia fractures.
• There is a need for advanced binding technology to enhance skier safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop a novel electronic ski binding system.
• To establish binding release criteria based on biomechanical models for injury prevention.
• To evaluate the performance of a prototype electronic ski binding.

Main Methods:

• Developed a four-step procedure for binding release criteria.
• Derived release criteria for tibia fracture using simplified biomechanical models (torsion and flexion).
• Designed a binding with a dynamometer, analog computer controller, and electromechanical release mechanism.

Main Results:

• The electronic ski binding measures torsion and bending moments via a strain gage dynamometer.
• An analog computer controller processes signals and models leg dynamics for dual release modes (medial-lateral rotation and flexion).
• Laboratory tests confirmed the prototype prevents inadvertent release under non-injurious loads while releasing before injurious levels.

Conclusions:

• The designed electronic ski binding effectively utilizes biomechanical criteria for injury prevention.
• The system demonstrates reliable performance in laboratory testing, distinguishing between injurious and non-injurious loads.
• This technology holds potential for significantly reducing lower extremity injuries in skiers.