Electronic Gravity Switch Release

 Electronic Speed Activated Release

This is only a proposal. It's what I see as desirable characteristics of an electronic release of the GG from the HUR position allowing it to pivot to the USD position for lockup in an inverted/headfirst fall. This is outside my knowledge and skill set to design and experiment with something like this. However, I outline what I would personally consider desirable for a widget that would perform this function. It seems like it could be made with off-the shelf parts.

While I've labeled it a 'gravity' release, it would be more accurate call it a speed/acceleration sensing device.  There are micro circuits available that are designed to sense motion. I would see that as the core around which a device could be built.  The challenge would be to design it small enough and light enough to be practical.

Design criteria:

• Small and lightweight
• Based on a micro accelerometer circuit
• Powered by a watch or AAA sized battery
• A micro push/pull solenoid used to release GG HUR attachment loop
• Device could be an all-in one unit (if small enough). Or, the sensing unit could be remote (carried in climbers pocket) which signalled the micro-solenoid trigger located between the GG and Chest harness.
• Adjustable sensitivity, or a circuit that was 'tuned' to only actuate only with the movement of a fall

The main advantage to something like this, would be that it could release the GG HUR connection before there was ever any tension on the rope from the fall and it could also sense a fall in any direction. Therefore, as soon as the rope became taught, the GG would be free to be pulled/pivot to the relative USD orientation allowing the earliest possible lock-up with a HUR setup. This would be a major advantage over the totally mechanical force actuated releases.

Given today's technology, it seems like it could be a relatively straight forward project (said by the Electronically ignorant tinkerer 😏).

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