Retrofit Sensor Module for Exercise Machine Motion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exercise machines lack monitoring and feedback functions, requiring a fitness coach on site, which is costly and impractical, and are underutilized due to their lack of smart features.
Innovation Solution
A retrofitting system that attaches a sensor module to the exercise machine to detect movements and transmit data wirelessly to a control module, which calculates angle values and sends them to a cloud-based application server for user verification and data processing, providing real-time feedback and guidance through a display device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional exercise machines are used without smart functions, then the machines remain simple and cost-effective, but they lack monitoring and feedback functions requiring costly on-site coaches
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring functionality into separate modules: sensor modules attached to exercise machines, control modules processing data, and cloud-based application servers. This segmentation allows smart functions to be added without redesigning the entire exercise machine system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components (sensor modules and control modules) that bridge the gap between conventional exercise machines and smart monitoring systems. These intermediaries capture motion data and transmit it to cloud services without requiring direct integration into the exercise machine's core structure.
2Reliability
If sensor modules are permanently integrated into exercise machines, then monitoring functions are reliable, but retrofitting existing machines becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor modules are designed to be dynamically attachable and detachable from exercise machines using fixtures. This dynamic attachment system allows the monitoring components to be flexibly installed on existing machines without permanent modification, facilitating easy retrofitting while maintaining reliable monitoring during use.
3Ease of operation
If exercise machines are equipped with full smart monitoring systems, then user feedback and tracking are improved, but the cost and complexity of deployment increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to independently monitor and track their own workouts through the cloud-based application and display devices. This self-service capability eliminates the need for costly on-site coaches to provide basic monitoring and feedback, reducing operational costs while improving user autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based application server and display devices serve multiple functions: user verification, workout program management, real-time feedback, and data analytics. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single integrated platform.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A method for retrofitting exercise machines includes removably attaching a sensor module (110, 110A, 110B) to a moving part of an exercise machine (1212, 1223), the sensor module (110, 110A, 110B) being configured to detect movements of the moving part and transmit the detected data by a first wireless communication connection, placing a control module (140, 140A, 140B, 140C) in a vicinity of yet separated from the exercise machine (1212, 1223), the control module (140, 140A, 140B, 140C) being configured to receive the detected data, calculate an angle value (217) and a speed range using the detected data and transmit the angle value (217) and the speed range by a second wireless communication connection, providing a remote cloud-based application server (160) configured to receive the angle value (217) and the speed range via the second wireless communication connection, verify a user, produce data packets based on the angle value (217), the speed range and the verified user information and transmit the data packets to a display device (172, 172A, 172B, 172C).