Ski-Mounted Telemetry Units for Real-Time Movement Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring ski athletes during races provide limited real-time data, primarily focusing on total race time and split times, lacking comprehensive analysis of physical quantities related to the ski and athlete's performance.
Innovation Solution
A telemetry system comprising mobile detection units attached to skis that measure acceleration, inclination, geographic position, and ambient temperature, wirelessly transmitting data to a remote electronic apparatus for real-time analysis and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional timing systems are used to monitor ski athletes, then the system is simple and inexpensive, but the measurement precision is limited to only total race time and split times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobile detection units as intermediary devices attached to the skis, which serve as mediators between the ski athlete and the remote electronic apparatus. These detection units capture comprehensive physical quantities (acceleration, inclination, position, temperature) and transmit them wirelessly, enabling detailed performance analysis without requiring complex body-worn sensors on the athlete themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical timing systems with electronic detection units that use accelerometers, inclinometers, GPS receivers, and temperature sensors. This substitution enables comprehensive measurement of physical quantities related to ski movement and environmental conditions, transforming simple timing data collection into multi-parameter performance analysis.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive physical quantity detection is implemented, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile detection unit is designed as a multi-functional integrated device that simultaneously performs multiple measurement functions: acceleration measurement via accelerometers, inclination measurement via inclinometers, geographic position tracking via GPS receivers, and temperature measurement via temperature sensors. This universal design captures comprehensive physical quantities in a single attached unit, avoiding the need for multiple separate devices.
3Productivity
If real-time data transmission is implemented, then productivity of data collection improves, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit continuously monitors and transmits physical quantity data in real-time during the ski descent, maintaining continuous measurement and communication without interruption. This continuous operation ensures that performance data is captured and transmitted immediately, enabling real-time analysis while the athlete is in motion, rather than requiring post-race data retrieval.
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
Enables comprehensive real-time performance evaluation of ski athletes without body-worn devices, facilitating easy setup and providing detailed performance metrics for each participant in a ski race.
Implementation Method 1
a series of physical quantities relative to the ski fitted during the descent, which include the acceleration to which the ski is subjected
Implementation Method 2
the momentary inclination of the ski with respect to a predetermined inertial reference, in both cases measured in real time during the descent along the ski slope
Implementation Method 3
the geographic position of the ski (namely the values of latitude, longitude and altitude)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A telemetry system (1) for the movement analysis of a downhill ski during use comprising: at least one mobile detection unit (2) which is adapted to be attached onto the downhill ski (3), and is adapted to measure, continuously or cyclically, a series of physical quantities that include the momentary acceleration and/or inclination of the detection unit (2); and a remote electronic apparatus (4), that communicates wirelessly with each of the detection units (2), so as to receive a data stream containing the measurements performed by each detection unit (2), and is also provided with a user interface that is configured so as to display the values of the physical quantities measured by said mobile detection unit (2).