Exercise System Simulating Outdoor Routes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exercise systems fail to effectively simulate outdoor experiences indoors and vice versa, leading to monotony due to lack of variation in scenery and terrain, especially when weather or schedule constraints prevent outdoor exercise.

Innovation Solution

An exercise system that includes a wearable monitoring device with sensors for tracking position, elevation, and physiological data, which can upload and process information to connect with a remote communication system and an exercise device to adjust parameters like incline, decline, and speed, allowing for simulation of outdoor routes indoors and vice versa.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a person exercises indoors on traditional exercise devices, then convenience is improved and exercise can be performed regardless of weather or schedule, but monotony increases due to lack of variation in scenery and terrain

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidvariation in scenery and terrain
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual copy of outdoor environments by capturing real-world route data including GPS coordinates, elevation profiles, and scenic imagery, then reproduces this experience indoors through display screens showing the captured scenery while the exercise device simulates the terrain through adjusted resistance and incline settings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts exercise device parameters such as resistance, incline, and speed in real-time based on the virtual route being simulated, creating a dynamic indoor experience that mirrors the varying conditions of outdoor terrain rather than using static fixed settings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing exercise systems attempt to simulate outdoor experiences, then engagement is improved, but the simulation quality is insufficient to provide realistic outdoor experience

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveengagementVSAvoidsimulation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary capture and processing of real outdoor route data including GPS tracking, elevation measurement, and scenic photography before the indoor exercise session, storing this data for accurate reproduction during the simulated workout to ensure high simulation quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback to the user by displaying real-time virtual route information, comparing actual performance against the captured outdoor route metrics, and adjusting resistance and incline settings dynamically to maintain accurate simulation of the original outdoor experience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2812873B1Indoor-outdoor exercise system
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 IFIT INC
  • EP2812873B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2812873B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2812873B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An embodiment of an exercise system includes an exercise monitoring device that gathers data regarding an outdoor exercise routine. Additionally, a remote communication system communicatively connectable to the exercise monitoring device is receptive to the data regarding the outdoor exercise routine such that the remote communication system generates an exercise program based on the data regarding the outdoor exercise routine. Furthermore, an exercise device that is communicatively connectable to the remote communication system may receive the exercise program and simulate one or more aspects of the outdoor exercise routine.