Motorized Fitness Wheel Torque Control for Adaptive Exercise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor-assisted fitness wheels lack dynamic control of motor assistance, fail to accommodate varying user fitness levels, and lack effective safety mechanisms, resulting in a sub-par exercise experience and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A motorized exercise wheel with a microcontroller that dynamically controls motor torque based on user input and movement variables, providing adjustable assistance or resistance through a motorized wheel assembly with sensors, handles, and a user interface for real-time adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a motor is used to provide assistance or resistance, then exercise difficulty can be adjusted for different fitness levels, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical assistance mechanisms (springs, bungee cords, pneumatic systems) with an electric motor system. The motor provides adjustable assistance or resistance through electronic control, eliminating the need for multiple mechanical components while achieving the same adaptability for different fitness levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed mechanical properties to variable electrical parameters. By controlling motor voltage, current, or PWM duty cycle, the system can dynamically adjust assistance or resistance levels without physical reconfiguration, simplifying the device while maintaining versatility.
2Ease of manufacture
If basic motor control methods are used, then the device is simpler to manufacture, but the exercise experience is sub-par
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where sensors detect user movement (position, velocity, acceleration) and the microcontroller adjusts motor output in real-time based on this feedback. This creates an adaptive exercise experience that responds to user performance, improving ease of operation while remaining manufacturable with standard sensor and control components.
3Ease of operation
If the motor provides continuous assistance, then beginners can complete exercises, but safety risks increase if the user releases the handles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic motor control where assistance levels change based on real-time sensor data. The system can detect when the user releases the handles through force sensors or position sensors, and automatically adjust or cut motor power accordingly, maintaining safety while providing assistance when needed.
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
The solution provides customizable workouts for beginners and experts, enhancing exercise progression and safety by dynamically adjusting motor assistance or resistance, ensuring an engaging and safe user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a motor coupled to the wheel assembly and configured to apply an output torque to the ground-contacting element
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods disclosed herein concern a motorized fitness wheel. The fitness wheel includes a wheel that rotates about an axle with two handles that extend outward from respective sides of the wheel along the rotational axis. In use, the user grasps the handles with their hands and rolls the wheel back and forth along the floor. A motor is configured to apply a torque to the wheel in either forward or backward direction to apply resistance or assistance and enhance the exercise. A position sensor feeds positional information of the motor to a microcontroller. Based on the positional information, the microcontroller dynamically controls the output torque of the motor as a function of one or more torque trajectories. The torque trajectories define the output torque of the motor over a cycle of the exercise as a function a spatial variable (e.g., wheel position) and/or time.