Enabling physically impaired biathletes to compete
For my final year MEng project, I designed, built, and tested a prosthetic ankle joint and foot for amputee cross-country skiing and biathlon, optimised around high-constraint users and winter-sport loading modes.
Key outcomes
Functional prototype delivered
— designed and manufactured a complete ankle + foot assembly and tested it for key performance characteristics.
User- and evidence-led kinematics
— defined target ranges of motion using literature + video analysis, refined through consultation with athletes and prosthetics experts.
Design de-risked through simulation
— iterated component designs with loading simulations reflecting skiing modes before committing to manufacture.
Contributions
Managed end-to-end design engineering
— requirements → kinematic model → concept selection → detailed design for manufacturing.
Hands-on prototyping + manufacturing
— fabricated custom components and assembled them into a working system.
Engineering analysis
— ran iterative simulations and mechanical reasoning to converge on a controlled DOF design (dorsi/plantar flexion + internal/external rotation).
Consulted former Olympic biathlete Mike Dixon and experts at the London Prosthetic Center, and conducted iterative sketching + prototyping to test out various ranges of motions observed in different skiing modes.
Ran iterative simulation to replicate loading conditions on each components before finalising the design for manufacturing.
Manufactured each custom component of the foot and ankle joint, and tested the performance of the device and its features in the lab.