The ATC by Black Diamond
The Gri Gri by PetzlState Of The Art Research
This was conducted to better understand how our requirements have been addressed in the past. State of the art (SOTA) is designed to advance the designs of the past by building on the successes of the past. Copying previous designs would not only infringe on certain copyrights but also fail to benefit society through a lack of progress. Our SOTA revealed two designs currently marketed that best surmise a successful design with respect to our requirements.
The ATC by Black Diamond
The Gri Gri by Petzl
Other devices were researched and analyzed, but these two designs proved to be the most popular and common on the market to date. These other devices included the Figure8, the Munter Hitch and the Raptor.
The Prototypes
The Arch
Pros
Unique
Normal
technique
Uses
2 ropes
Compact
Used
to rappel
Cons
Proof
of concept
----------------------------
The T-Bar
Pros
Unique
Proof
of concept
Uses
2 Ropes
Cons
Difficult
to unlock in tension
Bulky
Loading
the rope
Prototype
failed to lock under body weight
----------------------------
The Carabineer Slot
Pros
Simple
and lightweight
Low
cost
Cons
Prototype
failed to automatically lock
----------------------------
The first prototype of the CAM
Pros
Uses
2 ropes
Proof
of concept
Used
to rappel
Cons
Bulky
----------------------------
The Offset Circle Prototypes (Revisions 0-2)
Revision
0
Uses
a round brake
Uses
a “U”-shaped brake to grab the rope
Revision
2
Improved
Locking
Round
brake used
Improved
Usability
Rope
guide added to locking arm
Allows
more natural belaying and rappelling
Slot
added for loading rope
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