Virginia Tech Engineers Make Bobsled History with One-Handed Steering System
Adapted from original reporting by WDBJ News
A groundbreaking engineering project at Virginia Tech is revolutionizing para bobsled accessibility, creating new opportunities for athletes with upper-limb disabilities to participate in the sport.
The initiative began when Army Veteran David Snypes Jr., who lost his arm in a motorcycle accident, attended a Team USA Para Bobsled camp. His presence challenged the traditional notion that bobsled steering required two hands, as the sport typically uses a dual-rope steering system.
“Previously the only athletes that were open to try the sport were athletes with lower body or back injuries,” explained Virginia Tech Para Bobsled Project Team Leader Morgan Mocso. “When you’re steering a bobsled, you’re using two ropes to steer, and you can’t really push on a rope.”
The Virginia Tech engineering team developed a specialized one-handed steering rod for Snypes. Team USA Para Bobsled Pilot DJ Skelton tested the system successfully, leading to a historic moment when Snypes became the first one-handed athlete to steer a bobsled.
Building on this success, a new student team is now enhancing the system to:
– Handle increased speeds and g-forces
– Work safely from all track starting positions
– Accommodate either hand
– Include a lift mechanism
The team plans to conduct trials at Lake Placid’s technically demanding bobsled track. “If we can get this tested at the top of Lake Placid, which we’re hoping to do by the end of the year, this should be able to be used anywhere in the world at any bobsled track at any competition,” said Skelton.
The project is facilitated by QL Plus, a nonprofit organization connecting college engineering students with veterans who need adaptive devices. Executive Director Mark Robbins highlighted the program’s impact: “We get to work with brilliant students and brave veterans to create something very unique. It really makes a difference in their lives.”