AXON
Sensory technology meets trust: a project to support teamwork in the Alps.
A semester project by: Nastasya Buling
3rd semester, 2025/26
Lecturers: Martin Haas, Tanja Hakl, Romina Marsico, Prof. Tsunemitsu Tanaka, Tomas Zebis
Out and about as a team
Mountaineering means navigating a challenging landscape together. Your body is constantly under strain, your attention remains focused, and decisions must be made continuously. The weather, the terrain and fatigue influence every action. In this environment, it becomes clear that mountaineering is hardly possible on your own: orientation, pace and safety arise from the interaction of several people who look out for one another and take responsibility for each other.
Much of this coordination happens silently. Glances, movements or brief gestures are enough to recognise uncertainties or confirm decisions. Being mindful of one’s own actions and those of others becomes a key prerequisite for making progress together.
Technology as a complement
This is where the ‘AXON’ project comes in. It investigates how movements and physical conditions can be recorded and transmitted as data without altering the nature of mountaineering. AXON uses subtle, haptic feedback that can be felt directly on the body. The technology complements existing perception without dominating it.
The system consists of:
1. A smart climbing rope. This uses internal sensors to measure its own tension.
2. One module attached to each climber’s harness. It measures the movements of both people and emits vibration signals.
Moving Forward Together
The aim of the project is to make working together more conscious and easier. In situations where attention and trust are crucial, a little extra, discreet feedback can help us to attune to one another better. The aim is to make mountaineering not only safer, but also more enjoyable.
