Actuated Suspended Exercise Board for Unpredictable Balance Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise devices fail to simulate unpredictable and complex motor interferences that mimic real-life situations, are costly, and lack real-time control for personalized training.
Innovation Solution
A device with a suspended board connected to actuators and flexible suspension means, allowing controlled vertical translations, rotations, and oscillations, managed by a control unit to create unpredictable motor interferences, and optionally integrated with a treadmill for dynamic exercises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex movement mechanisms are used to create unpredictable motor interferences, then the ability to simulate real-life motor interferences is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The board is suspended from movable support points that can be dynamically repositioned by actuators, allowing the suspension geometry to change during operation. This dynamic reconfiguration enables complex motor interferences to be simulated using relatively simple mechanical components rather than complex predetermined mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system is divided into multiple independent segments (suspension means connecting the board to movable support points on the support structure). This segmentation allows each segment to be independently controlled by actuators, enabling complex overall movements to be achieved through coordinated simple actions of individual segments.
2Device complexity
If predictable movement patterns are used in exercise devices, then the mechanism simplicity is maintained, but the ability to train balance and reaction to unexpected stimuli is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors detect the position and movement of the board and the user's responses to motor interferences. This feedback information is processed by a control unit that adjusts the actuator commands in real-time, enabling the system to create unpredictable motor interferences while maintaining relatively simple mechanical mechanisms through intelligent control rather than complex hardware.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances muscle and balance training by simulating unexpected movements, providing customizable and controlled training scenarios, and reducing complexity and cost compared to prior art.
Implementation Method 1
suspension means comprising flexible members connecting the board to the support structure
Implementation Method 2
The board is suspended from the support structure by means of suspension means comprising flexible members
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for exercising muscles and balance comprising a board (20) with a support surface (21) to accommodate at least one person performing a physical exercise, a static support structure (10), suspension means (30) between the static structure (10) and the board (20) adapted to maintain this latter suspended and raised off the ground and first actuator means (40) of said suspension means (30) mounted on the static structure, in which said suspension means (30) comprise elongated flexible elements (31) with a first end (31a) connected to said first actuator means (40) and a second opposite end (31b) connected to the board (20), said actuator means (40) being controllable by a control unit (10) adapted to generate a sequence of activation and deactivation signals to move the suspension means (30) and, therefore, to vary the height or the tilt of the board (20) or both.