Design a Bicycle Helmet
Engineers are involved in designing safety gear.Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1981-2004.
Students are introduced to the biomechanical characteristics of helmets, and are challenged to incorporate them into designs for helmets used for various applications. By doing this, they come to understand the role of engineering associated with safety products. The use of bicycle helmets helps to protect the brain and neck in the event of a crash. To do this effectively, helmets must have some sort of crushable material to absorb the collision forces and a strap system to make sure the protection stays in place. The exact design of a helmet depends on the needs and specifications of the user.
Safety engineers design products with a specific user in mind. It is important that engineers fully understand the needs and specifications of the user to produce a functional product. If the product interacts with the body, the engineers must have an understanding of bio-mechanics, which is the application of the principles of physics to the body.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Analyze a product to determine the need it was designed to meet and the customer it was meant to attract.
- Produce, use, and evaluate a prototype of the design solution.
- Describe the personal impact of the designed product.
- Communicate the solution to a problem and justify decisions.