Instituto Empresa

• If you could invent something, what would it be and why?

• I am a very practical person and I often have ideas of inventions I would like to

create to solve problems I come across. Sometimes I feel frustrated as some

quick research shows me someone has already invented a solution which may

not be exactly mine but which is good enough to solve the problem.

• Still, I have been thinking recently about how to improve the skiing experience of

ski lovers when they find themselves on a flat ski slope with no other solution

than pushing on their poles to get moving; it can be quite boring, or very tiring if

it is at the end of a long day of skiing and one is in a hurry to get back home,

sometimes this kind of activities can make you frustrated or exhausted.

• As you know, holidays are the best way to relax, get away from stress and

take care of ourselves. It also allows you to spend time with friends, family,

or maybe simply by yourself if one wants to evade from noise, cars, pollution

and others.

• In Winter, some countries in the world change drastically and have totally

different landscapes. In France but also in Canada, mountains offer to a

large public of tourists the opportunity to go skiing or snowboarding in

beautiful spaces.

• Winter holidays are also about atmosphere. Snowball battles, clean air, and

sometimes amazing encounters are a big part of the experience.

• Of course I am not especially fond of extreme skiing, which is a little

frightening

• But I love skiing and I am pretty good at it. It’s even better when you have fun

racing with a friend.

• But what I find terrible is having to push on my poles on a flat slope with a

long road back home…

• I even thought at times of abandoning my skis and walk back home. Less

than ideal….

• So I looked for options. How do people do it? You may have friendly pals, or

use more traditional techniques.

• But suddenly I found an existing Canadian device which, enhanced with the

possibilities of modern Bluetooth communication and miniature electric

motors could do the job.

• So what is the idea?

• To develop miniature caterpillar tracks, propelled by small electric engines,

which you could simply clip on your skis. They would be foldable, so that

when you don’t need to use them you fold them up and they don’t prevent

you from skiing normally, but if needed you fold them down and lock them in

that position. It would be fully compatible with using ski lift when folded up.

Then, when needed, your Bluetooth activated remote control allows you to

start the engine, control your speed and you can nicely enjoy the landscape

while being gently pushed back home. One might use two for snowboards

without any problem.

• Of course it still requires a little bit of development, but I have found some

initial drawings and searched for existing parts which might be easily

adapted and used.

• So I am quite confident I could lead the development a proper prototype.

• My idea would be then to have it built in Spain, where large ski resorts exist

and provide a natural market, but as well to export it to countries like France

or Japan where people ski and love innovation and robots.