| Summary: | Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006. === Includes bibliographical references (p. 26). === A lightweight camping cot is currently unavailable in the backpacking market. Although camping cots do exist, they are not competitive in weight and size with sleeping pads typically used by campers. On average, sleeping pads weigh 2 pounds while the lightest weight camping cot on the market is 5 pounds. In addition, the cot does not collapse to the size of a sleeping pad. These factors prevent cots from being a suitable alternative to sleeping pads. In order to bridge this discrepancy, a lightweight cot was designed and constructed in order to give campers a viable alternative to sleeping pads. The lightweight cot designed for this thesis weighs approximately 3 pounds and collapses to the size of a sleeping pad. This 1 pound increase in weight from a sleeping pad is made up for by increased comfort while sleeping and safety during lightning storms. The lightweight cot utilizes carbon fiber poles for its structural support and ripstop nylon for the cot surface. The carbon fiber poles are connected with plastic fittings. Each of the cot's components was selected due to its highly lightweight properties and overall strength. === by Walton Ward. === S.B.
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