The goal of this project was to develop a device to improve the safety of playground seesaws. Seesaws can cause injury or discomfort due to the jarring impact experienced by the user when the seesaw hits the ground because of the other user dismounting the seesaw. To address this issue, we designed, built, and tested a modular shock-absorption system that applies a braking force to seesaw motion, thus limiting seesaw acceleration, and consequently, preventing large impact forces. The device attaches to a variety of seesaw geometries. Testing shows that the device successfully reduces the likelihood of user injury without impeding normal seesaw operation.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Bickham, Samuel Clayman
• Eaton, Matthew Kent
• Garcia, Matthew Luke

Contributors

• Furhman, Barbara

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042418-120035

Advisor

• Cobb, Eben C.

Year

• 2018

Date created

• 2018-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright