Bicycle Pedal Angle Sensing for Real-Time Heel Position Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cyclists face challenges in maintaining optimal pedaling efficiency and body positioning during outdoor rides, as existing methods require expensive equipment and specialist assistance, and are not effective for extended periods or when fatigue causes changes in body positioning.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle pedal and shoe combination equipped with sensors, preferably accelerometers, that detect the angle of the pedal and shoe relative to a predetermined level, providing instant feedback through signaling devices to maintain optimal heel position and improve pedaling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If specialized equipment and specialist assistance are used to monitor body positioning, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical filming equipment with electronic accelerometers that measure acceleration forces. These sensors directly detect body positioning data through acceleration measurements, eliminating the need for cameras, specialized studios, and manual analysis while providing continuous real-time feedback during outdoor cycling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables cyclists to independently monitor and improve their own body positioning without requiring specialist assistance. The accelerometers automatically capture data, process it through algorithms, and provide feedback to the rider, allowing self-directed training and optimization during outdoor rides.
2Measurement precision
If filming equipment is used indoors on stationary trainers, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation and accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical filming system with wireless accelerometers that attach directly to the bicycle frame and rider's body. This substitution enables measurement during natural outdoor cycling rather than requiring indoor stationary training, making the technology accessible for extended rides in real-world conditions without specialized facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static indoor measurement to dynamic outdoor measurement. The accelerometers continuously track body positioning during actual cycling motion, capturing data throughout the entire pedal stroke cycle in real-world conditions, allowing riders to maintain proper form during natural riding dynamics rather than constrained indoor positions.
3Duration of action of moving object
If extended outdoor monitoring is required, then duration of action is improved, but measurement precision and reliability worsen due to fatigue and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerometers provide continuous real-time measurement of body positioning throughout extended outdoor rides. The system continuously captures acceleration data at high frequency, maintaining monitoring without interruption regardless of ride duration, rider fatigue, or changing conditions, enabling long-term tracking of form maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system processes accelerometer data through algorithms that provide real-time feedback to the rider about body positioning. This continuous feedback loop allows riders to consciously adjust their posture and maintain optimal form even during extended rides when fatigue would normally cause unconscious position changes, thereby preserving measurement accuracy throughout the duration.
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 system allows cyclists to maintain optimal pedaling efficiency and speed by providing instant feedback on heel position, reducing the need for expensive equipment and specialist assistance, while being lightweight and easy to install, allowing for extended outdoor use without interference.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one sensor is an accelerometer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a sensor for detecting the angle of a bicycle shoe or bicycle pedal in respect to a predetermined level and to a method of using a sensor to detect this angle. The sensor can be connected to a signaling device to notify the cyclist when the angle is less than 20 degrees such that the cyclist can lift one or both of his heels to exert more optimal power to the bicycle pedal.