The Benson Rower Submitted by: Peter Van Allen (May 1, 2009)
The Benson rower, which was unveiled last Friday, provides a wide range of movement and pivots, aided by multiple pulleys, springs and cylinders. But the key to its lifelike movement are the four custom-made pneumatic parts called fluidic muscles from the German company Festo. These parts contract like muscles when they compress air and provide a remarkably wide range of smooth motion, helping to make this model the gold standard of rowing machines. Engineers helped with the motion controls and business students from President Spinelli’s entrepreneurship course worked on the business plan.
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