Polar explorer Eric Phillips.
John Muir, Eric Phillips, Peter Hillary at Scott Base pictured with the RMIT Icetrek Sled designed by industrial designer Ian Wong and aerospace engineer Lachlan Thompson.
RMIT Icetrek sled, Antarctica, 1998
The history and practice of Industrial Design in Victoria Australia is my research interest and this blog include posts related to this interest as well as my practice as a designer and design educator.
Monday, 27 June 2011
As cold as ice - Icetrek Sled
In 1998-99 Eric Phillips skied to the South Pole with Jon Muir and Peter Hillary (Son of Sir Edmond Hillary). The expedition of 1425 km and 84 days started from Ross Island and pioneered a new route up the Shackleton Glacier. This expedition was significantly supported by RMIT research and design innovation in the form of the innovative twin wall Icetrek Sled designed by industrial designer Ian Wong and aerospace engineer Lachlan Thompson. Sleds were designed and manufactured for this expedition and purchased by the Australian Antarctic Division where they are used with ATV's. I remember during the extensive testing, dropping a bowling ball on to off tool samples, at -40 degrees, in the Nestle icecream factory in Clayton. The parts shattered into a million pieces - take two - linear low density cross linked material which worked a treat. I will never forget it!
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