In reply to chrispriscott:
great idea, I'd start by assuming a standard hold (cf the moon holds
small and good) and a flat surface (could be angled) and a standard grid
of bolt holds.
These are not unreasonable constraints and given you can think about body
positions I reckon you can get started and productive quite quickly. For
example a 'layback route' is fairly simple, a left right progresion is
also simple, a rockover move not difficult to arrange/imagine in geometry.
When your system can start to make simple routes like these you can add
other bits, even with standard holds.
Then you have a few other dimensions to play with like hold types, and hold
sharing, reuse by feet, matching, layoffs, pinchs, bridge etc etc
Sounds good and IMHO doable and also a good project as you can start simple and progress.
next problem is how to test these out, and here there are 2 ways, best is
obviously to build it but i reckon you could also simulate an idealised
climber to help in your model (another project to build a climber to climb
routes - i have a vague recollection of seeing something similar, and
there used to be a screensaver for macs that did this). Anyhow a small
woody would work for the prototype early stages. When you reckon it has
has some stability/proficiency talk to your local walls.
Now to make good interesting routes is a whole other ball game and would
take much more effort than i reckon you could devote at this time so i'd
learn to walk before taking on a 110m hurdles.
What i find awkward when setting is not ruining a sequence of handholds by adding a foot hold.
Great idea and excellent potential, keep us posted (hapy to chat ia email
not that i know much of anything)