Version three of the Atlas rope ascender goes commercial

We were impressed with Atlas Devices' Rope Ascender when we saw it earlier this year, but the company, run by 24-year-old Nathan Ball, has refined the original design and is ready to start marketing the third generation of the device. Hack A Day got to play with one and they found that the new version is not only easier to use and less damaging to the rope, but also lighter and more efficient. Atlas is initially pitching these at the military, but we can see these being huge hits with the high school gym class market.

[Samsam @ Sep 2nd 2007 1:20AM]

I always felt it unfair that I was only offered the choice of stairs or an elevator to ascend to my floor, but soon this will no longer be true!

[Mike Lembo @ Sep 2nd 2007 1:21AM]

They made a nicer one on Mythbusters. It was even compact

[max @ Sep 2nd 2007 1:51AM]

@mike
haha yeah i was watching that the other day and thinking the same thing

[Zwergner @ Sep 2nd 2007 3:27AM]

Er, that wasn't really a rope ascender. It retracted a cable, sort of a "one person only" deal. However with something like this many people could be using the same rope.

[bryan @ Sep 2nd 2007 6:10AM]

It seems obvious that it should recharge if you use it to descend (though I didn't see that noted in the patent http://tinyurl.com/yobheb ). That would make it much more useful in the field.

[mark @ Sep 2nd 2007 7:56AM]

True Mythbusters retracted a cable instead of gripping a rope and pulling it through a set of wheels; although I don't see how difficult it would be to change the setup.
It also wasn't quite as compact as if you recall the batteries were worn around the waist. However the configuration Mythbusters to me seems a bit more elegant, and more reminiscent of the equipment used by Blind Echolocating Nocturnal Flying Mammal Man, which was their intention.

[bombastinator @ Sep 2nd 2007 2:49PM]

In order to change from a reel all one would need to do is wrap the cable a few times around the reel and leave the other end dangling down. It would also be handy if one could support the reel from only one side allowing it to be placed in the center of a rope. This could be better explained by viewing a powered ship's winch, which are commonly used on sail boats.

[deusdiabolus @ Sep 2nd 2007 8:53AM]

They won't let you use that in gym class. You'll just have to get part way up and then fall on your butt like we all used to.

[Alan @ Sep 2nd 2007 10:00AM]

To any of my fellow climbers who have ever used Yosemite, Inchworm or Emergency Ascent to get up a rope... we've been outdone by machines, again.

[kidgenius @ Sep 2nd 2007 12:14PM]

Also, the mythbusters one only passed really small cable through it. This is climbing rope. It's much, much thicker. As such, all of your pulleys need to be wider to accept it. The steel cable is a helluva lot thinner.

[Sharker524 @ Sep 2nd 2007 12:21PM]

Mythbusters > Atlas Devices

[Twitchy @ Sep 2nd 2007 4:37PM]

I agree with the recharge-during-descent modification being necessary because this then becomes a viable option for multiple individuals to escape from upper floors. Only downside is that it now makes it easier for your kid to sneak out, even if you do live on the third floor.

[James @ Sep 4th 2007 5:13PM]

You all seem to be forgetting, the Mythbusters one didn't have a "descend" option. Oops.