Dr. Tahira Reid Smith, an engineering professor at Penn State University, has built a working prototype that automatically turns Double Dutch ropes [1].
The invention, titled “Jump Dreams,” removes the need for human turners, potentially expanding access to the traditional activity and integrating cultural heritage with mechanical engineering.
Smith first conceptualized the machine as a child. She sketched the original idea in third grade, meaning it took approximately 40 years [1] for the concept to transition from a childhood drawing to a functional prototype.
The machine was demonstrated in 2024 [1]. By automating the rotation of the ropes, the device allows individuals to jump without the coordination of a team of turners. Smith said she developed the project to blend nostalgia and culture with STEM education [3].
The prototype was developed at Penn State University in the U.S. [1]. The project serves as a bridge between the imaginative play of childhood and the technical rigor of professional engineering, demonstrating how early creative impulses can lead to tangible innovation.
Smith said she sought to realize a childhood imagination through the application of her academic expertise [3]. The resulting machine maintains the rhythmic essence of Double Dutch while utilizing automation to sustain the motion of the ropes [1].
“Dr. Tahira Reid Smith has built a working prototype that automatically turns Double Dutch ropes.”
The creation of Jump Dreams represents a convergence of cultural preservation and mechanical automation. By removing the requirement for human turners, the device lowers the barrier to entry for a culturally significant activity while providing a practical example of how STEM principles can be applied to non-industrial, community-focused projects.
