A problem many people have faced when taking part in activities such as skiing or snowboarding is a lack of visibility. Sometimes, lighting makes the snow surface appear flat, while at other times, clouds or fog interfere with the visibility of the snow. This can prevent the rider from determining changes in terrain, potentially leading to injury or death.
The kind of people that this solution would be for includes skiers and snowboarders, as mentioned in my definition statement, but it could also be used by other types of people. As my solution may end up being some form of way to place an overlay on the terrain, other groups of people who would use this may also be interested.
I took some time to brainstorm potential solutions to this issue and came up with several good ideas. These include a laser grid projector, drones that shine spotlights ahead of riders, and an AR function for goggles that shows an outline of the terrain. Below, I have provided further descriptions of each of my ideas.
Laser Grid: A small laser that attaches to the top or side of the helmet. This laser would project a wide rectangular grid on the ground, allowing you to determine the shape of the terrain by observing the changes in the grid.
Prototype: A small circuit with a laser that projects a grid onto a surface in front of it. The grid projected by the laser would be accomplished by cutting the shape into an object placed in front of the laser in order to control the direction and form it into the desired shape.
Spotlight Drones: A drone or fleet of drones that would project spotlights on the ground. This solution is more meant to dissipate fog or clouds when high in the mountains; however, it could also be combined with the above laser grid idea to project a grid on the ground from above. Combining ideas like this would make the grid cover a larger area, although the accuracy may be impaired by the grid increasing in size.
Prototype: A prototype of this idea that I would be able to construct within the time limit for this project would consist of a circuit that produces a large spotlight pointing in a desired direction, which could be linked to a separate device or application.
AR Goggles: This idea consists of two different components, a pair of goggles and a live 3D model of the mountain, complete with buildings, rocks, and signs. With a live-updating 3D model linked to AR goggles, a skier would be able to see an outline of everything in front of them, even through fog, clouds, or deceiving lighting.
Prototype: A prototype of this idea that I would be able to construct within the time limit for this project would consist of a simple 3D model of an area or room, as well as an application or screen that shows an Augmented Reality outline of the 3D model according to where you are in the area.
In order to accomplish any of these prototypes, I need to create a step-by-step plan of how to design and create them. My initial plan is to focus on one prototype idea, specifically the laser grid. Below, you can find the plan I have created to build this device.
Step 1: Obtain or create a small circuit that produces a low-power laser beam.
Step 2: Figure out a method to control the direction of the light and focus it into a grid pattern.
Step 3: Create a way of attaching it to a ski helmet or shoulder strap.
Step 4: Perform tests and observe how effectively the grid appears on various surfaces and objects.
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