GEAR is actively seeking new and excited members to join via enterprise or senior design. We are specifically in need of electrical and chemical engineers who have a passion for the outdoors and want to get some projects finished, and start new ones that interest them. 

GEAR is now even more active online, with an Instagram Account! @mtu_gear is our page and will be highlighting all of our team members, projects and future plans. 

Our portage paddle was featured in the Michigan Tech Design Expo magazine, and has gained some attention from others on campus for use in the water sports industry. 

Get ready, winter is coming!

​Tim

10/29/14

Things are heating up! GEAR has sparked interest from one of the biggest companies in the outdoor industry (sorry cant tell!), and we couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to showcase our talents to an industry giant! 

As we anxiously wait for a response the GEAR team is moving forward in advancing through our internal design project, the portage paddle, and meet with RadTherm scientists (fellow Michigan Tech Grads!) yesterday to further our insight into the Human Simulation Modeling that we will be using to analyze human body reactions to fabrics, insulation and other external environmental loads. Check out ThermalAnalytics here: http://www.thermoanalytics.com/

Human Simulation Overview - RadTherm, Thermal Anlytics. http://www.thermoanalytics.com/human_simulation_technology

All team members are busy working and its a great sight to see GEAR running on all cylinders, whether it be working with potential sponsors, developing our paddle design and working through the engineering design process or working across departments to gain recognition of GEAR on campus. 

This is where I leave you now, looking forward to big news next week!

#GEARlife,
Ross P.
Resident Dirtbag

GEAR had its weekly adviser meeting with the team and our adviser Brett Hamlin. The team is in the process of developing initial design concepts and considering advantages and disadvantages of initial design projects. Design project proposals are being developed and the business plan of the enterprise is being finalized.

Things are coming together finally! It has been hard to take it slow in the beginning, as this is our first semester in action, but we are confident it will pay off in the end. We can feel the anticipation in the air for the first design project.

Earlier this month, three members of the GEAR team participated in the annual Great Northern Adventure Race (GNAR) hosted by the Outdoor Adventure Program here at Michigan Tech. Megan, Dean and Ryan participated in a 3-man team completing a biking, canoeing, trail running, road running, land navigation and canoeing race totaling about 26 miles in a 5-6 hour race. The team had a great time participating and couldn't have enjoyed a better day in the keweenaw. Race coordinator Carly Joseph, and GEAR Vice President, had quite a different day coordinating the day-long race....but loved to see her hard planning set in place for the race participants. See the images below of the GEARHEADS running the GNAR race.

We are so proud of the GEARHEADS for completing the GNAR race and getting to really know each other along the way, and we are certain Carly learned much about race coordinating as well as the GNAR race came to fruition after months of hard planning and anticipation. The GNAR race is one of the many reasons we love Michigan Tech and living in the Keweenaw. Not many other better ways to spend a sunny day at Michigan Tech!

See you on the Trails,
Ross

We made it!

After what seemed to be a long and tedious process, the General and Expedition Adventure Research Enterprise (GEAR) has made its way through the formal process and has begun as an enterprise team for the Fall 2014 semester! As the founder, I am absolutely stoked to leave behind the beginnings, of what could be the most influential enterprise team here at Michigan Technological University or Michigan Tech. The enterprise program at Michigan Tech will be the best proving grounds for this new company/team (check out the enterprise program here: http://www.mtu.edu/enterprise/). 

This new enterprise team, compromised of Michigan Tech students and our adviser (Brett Hamlin), has been designed under the mission statement: To provide students with professional experiences with industry-fueled projects and team-based learning through the design, testing, analysis and production of outdoor adventure and expedition equipment.

Not only do we see ourselves as providing a unique viewpoint on the outdoor recreation hard and soft goods market, but we anticipate some good times in pulling together some of the most technical and adventurous students that Michigan Tech has to offer into one room. 

So I guess that's where I leave you for now, keep in touch as this blog will serve an outlet for you to see how our "outdoorsy" college lifestyles impact the techinal innovation that our team has to offer. In fact stop reading this and go outside and enjoy the world around you, who knows what you'll find!


See you on the Trails,
Ross