New Rope Ascending Device

[jomoco]

Some of the brainy students at MIT have developed a new device for ascending a single rope. Their target market is the Armed Forces. By partnering with a company called Atlas Devices they appear to have succeeded in their quest.

A video of the device in action can be viewed at the link below:

http://atlasdevices.com/index.htm


Apparently it's battery powered.

Interesting,

jomoco

 

[spongygumz]

Ascender

Pretty cool.I would'nt want to get it to close to my crotch. Hooya!

 

[rmihalek]

I wonder if the brainiacs at MIT incorporated a regenerative braking system so that you could partially recharge the batteries when descending?

There was a video on here, maybe Ekka posted it, of a guy who built his own gas engine powered ascender to get up into the crowns of 150 foot trees. It looked like a capstan winch with a small (~25cc) engine. It seemed to work well in the video.

 

[Streyken]

I want one. I emailed them and ...
"...we plan to release a commercial version of the product later this year, depending on how quickly the safety certification process is completed. The new device will be well-suited for aborists and offer two primary benefits: 1) power assisted ascents for climbing trees and 2) portable winching for hauling limbs."

They seem pretty receptive to any input.

With this and a Big Shot with a 200' range I won't have to do any work.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Looks to me like it would be cost prohbative for anyone who does climbe ofver 60 ft several times a day. Very bulky too.

As for combat ascents, notice that they got 5 feet below the lip of the roof, and stopped. They would have to secure off to the rope, remove the device and then finnish by hand.

Too me it look like one of those things that would be nice to have a few times a month.

 

[00chris85]

you know with the right training for everyone that could eliminate bucket trucks ....then what would city workers do?

 

[Streyken]

I do a lot of crown inspections on old topped-off Douglas-fir, sometimes 7 or 8 a day. Often they don't want me putting spur marks up the trunk, particularly if it's in a park or golf course; as these trees are often topped at 90' plus, I thought this would make my life easier - I might actually get home in time to write the reports that night.

 

[adam]

dragrace

cool stuff, soon we will see dragrace replacing footlock competition. I like it, 360hp turbocharged ascenders, vibram soles spinning, parachutes...

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I do a lot of crown inspections on old topped-off Douglas-fir, sometimes 7 or 8 a day. Often they don't want me putting spur marks up the trunk, particularly if it's in a park or golf course; as these trees are often topped at 90' plus, I thought this would make my life easier - I might actually get home in time to write the reports that night.

Sounds like you actually fit my criteria