Swimming Performance Monitoring via Motion Correlation Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swimming monitoring devices struggle to accurately determine swimming distance and style due to limitations in satellite positioning indoors and reliance on personal stroke variations, leading to unreliable detection of turns and styles.
Innovation Solution
A sensor fusion approach using motion-sensitive sensors, such as accelerometers and magnetometers, to measure and analyze correlation between successive body motions, enabling robust detection of swimming parameters like turns and style, independent of individual swimming habits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite positioning receivers are used for tracking distance travelled, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system becomes inapplicable indoors where satellite positioning does not work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces motion-sensitive sensors (accelerometers, magnetometers) as intermediary devices to measure swimming motion indirectly. Instead of directly positioning the swimmer like satellite receivers, the sensors detect body motion patterns and correlate them to determine distance and turns, enabling indoor swimming monitoring where satellite positioning fails
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the satellite-based electromagnetic positioning system with a mechanical motion sensing system using accelerometers and magnetometers. This substitution allows the system to function indoors by measuring physical motion characteristics rather than relying on satellite signals
2Device complexity
If acceleration sensors with predefined rules are used to detect swimming style, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to personal stroke variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the detection approach by changing from rule-based classification to correlation-based analysis. Instead of checking if motion patterns match predefined rules, the system calculates correlation factors between successive motions and uses temporal variations and spatial statistical distributions to identify swimming styles, making the detection more robust to personal variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves from analyzing motion in a single rule-based dimension to examining multiple dimensions simultaneously - temporal variations in correlation over time and spatial statistical distributions across different motion axes. This multi-dimensional analysis provides more discriminatory power for style classification
3Measurement precision
If magnetic field-based lap sensing circuit is used to detect pool endpoints, then turn detection capability is improved, but the system cannot determine swimming style
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the motion-sensitive sensors serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same accelerometers and magnetometers that detect turns through motion patterns also provide data for swimming style classification through correlation analysis. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detection systems while enhancing overall system 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
This method provides accurate and reliable determination of swimming performance parameters, including distance and style, with improved robustness against personal variations and slow speed drifts, allowing for dynamic interval training monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the properties of strokes using an accelerometer
Implementation Method 2
combined with correlation calculation in each of the three dimensions can be used for reliable characterization of the swimming style
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and method for monitoring a swimming performance. The device comprises one or more motion-sensitive sensors for providing motion data characteristic to the motion of the swimmer during said swimming performance and a computing unit adapted to detect body motions from said motion data using predefined criteria. According to the invention the computing unit comprises means for calculating a plurality of correlation factors depicting correlation of motion data between successive body motions detected, means for storing the correlation factors as a time series, and means for determining one or more parameters characteristic to the swimming performance based on said correlation factors stored. The invention can be used for robust determination of swimmer's turns, distance swum or swimming style, for example.