This page will show evidence of my work for the module DE501
Problem Statement
Low quality helmets still used today do not protect effectively against concussions. By upgrading their design concussions can be prevented.
Constraints
Financial, Materials, Equipment, Legality, Certification, Resources
PDS
| Target Audience | American football players still using old helmets which are not up to modern standards. |
| Function | To improve the safety and protection of players heads while using the helmet improvements which will reduce impact forces felt on the side of the head therefor reducing the likelihood of concussions. |
| Size | The product would come in various sizes to fit the different sizes of helmets as they have different outer shell diameters and circumferences. |
| Materials | Materials included in the production of the product include: Non-Newtonian Fluid, Polycarbonate, Photopolymer, Â Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Urethane. |
| Manufacture | Currently only some parts will be manufactured for testing and prototyping. These parts require; moulding, drilling, creation of non-Newtonian fluid, 3D printing, vacuum forming
Will manufacture prototype of: side pod concept to fit to an old helmet. |
| Maintenance Requirement | The product will need replacing every 2-3 seasons similar to the internal pads of a helmet. |
| Aesthetic | The product will be available in a variety of colours to match the outer shell, consumers may purchase the colour they want or that best fits their team colours. |
| Target Cost | The target cost of this product will be the total cost of all of the materials. |
| Price to Consumer | The target cost is around 80-100 |
| Testing | Testing will be required on all products manufactured to make sure they meet a safety standard and work as intended. During design and prototyping phase certain parts will be manufacture with the sole purpose of being tested. |
| Patents | Patents can obtained in the future for any new technology developed, as well as gaining licences to use patents of other companies if the design works. |
| Quantity | The plan is only a few parts are manufacture to test, that can be manufacture on site in university. |
| Quality | The product will be manufactured at a high quality as the products aim to to protect its users and if the quality in not good it puts the users health at risk. |
| Market | The market is lead by a few brands making this market an oligopoly. This makes it somewhat difficult to enter the market however the design and patents could be sold to one of the market leaders for them then to develop and produce. Entering the market as a new company would be very difficult as these market leaders hold majority of the market share. The product would have to be extremely new and different to make a dent in the market. |
Design Flowchart
Outer Shell Design
Internal Padding Design
Developing Ideas
The Images below are a 3D design of the side pods added to a 3D model of an American football helmet a Riddell Speed 360.
The Riddell Speed 360 design was made by Jordan Tadić. https://grabcad.com/library/football-helmet-1/details?folder_id=411633
By adding the side pod design it allows a clearer image of what the product will look like when connected to the helmet.
Below are the rough original 2D sketches for the side pod design, these are how I originally designed the shape and where they would fit.
