Rower Stroke Synchronization With Sensor Feedback and Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inconsistent timing among rowers during the 'catch' and 'finish' stages in rowing negatively impacts the performance of the boat, and existing synchronization methods, such as coxswain instructions and timing devices, are ineffective in providing accurate feedback for synchronization.
Innovation Solution
Deploy sensors to monitor key events in the rowing stroke cycle, including 'catch', 'finish', and additional events in the 'recovery' phase, to provide real-time feedback and personalized synchronization instructions to rowers, using laser-based distance sensors, visual sensors, and oarlock sensors to ensure synchronization with a central unit for data collection and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If coxswain instructions and timing devices are used for synchronization, then rowers can receive timing guidance, but the feedback is ineffective and synchronization accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback by monitoring each rower's stroke timing through sensors and comparing it against the desired synchronization timing. The system provides immediate feedback to rowers about their synchronization status, enabling them to adjust their timing dynamically. This closed-loop feedback mechanism transforms the ineffective open-loop timing devices into a precise synchronization system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical timing devices and human coxswain instructions with an electronic sensor-based system. Optical sensors, accelerometers, and other detectors automatically measure stroke timing and transmit data to a central processing unit, eliminating the imprecision of mechanical timing mechanisms and human reaction time.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to monitor rowing events, then synchronization feedback precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multi-functional sensors that can detect multiple stroke events simultaneously. For example, a single sensor system can detect catch timing, finish timing, and recovery phase events by analyzing different aspects of the same signal. This reduces the number of separate sensors needed while maintaining high measurement precision for all events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple detection functions into an integrated sensor system. Instead of using separate sensors for catch detection, finish detection, and recovery monitoring, the system merges these functions into a unified measurement apparatus that collects all timing data through coordinated sensor operations, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If real-time feedback is provided to rowers, then synchronization timing is improved, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the critical synchronization-relevant data from the full sensor dataset for real-time feedback. Instead of processing all sensor information, the system identifies and extracts key timing parameters (catch timing, finish timing) that directly impact synchronization, reducing the data processing load while maintaining productivity improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data filtering and preprocessing at the sensor level before transmitting data to central processing. By pre-processing signals to extract essential timing information upfront, the system reduces the amount of raw data that requires complex processing, thereby managing information processing requirements while maintaining real-time feedback capability.
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 synchronization by providing precise feedback to rowers, allowing them to adjust their actions for improved timing, thereby maximizing the speed of the boat.
Implementation Method 1
using laser-based distance sensors, visual sensors, and oarlock sensors to ensure synchronization
Data Source
AI summary
The present teaching relates to methods for synchronizing rowers in rowing. A synchronization timing instruction is generated based on a stroke rate as a stroke cycle with multiple timings for corresponding events to occur and used to facilitate synchronization across multiple rowers on the events in each stroke cycle based on the timings in the instruction. For each of the events and a timing specified in the instruction, an actual timing for the event related to each rower is received from a sensor and used to determine a synchronization status of the rower on the event in comparison with the timing for the event as provided by the instruction. The synchronization status on each event with respect to each rower is signaled to the rower.