Tactile based performance enhancement system

• US 9,327,703 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Speadtech Limited
• Original Assignee: Racing Incident Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Hill, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis
• Application Number:
  US14/604,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20150145665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence

Abstract

A system is disclosed for communicating tactile messages to a user, such as a racecar driver, yacht crewmember, or other athlete. The system can include a tactile vest having tactile activators for conveying tactile messages to the user, including real time messages for helping the user assess and improve physical performance. The messages may be generated based on various types of sensor data, including, for example, data collected by vehicle sensors of a racecar or yacht.

Claims

1. A system for improving racecar driver performance, the system comprising:

a vest that is adapted to be worn by a driver of a racecar, said vest including a plurality of tactile devices capable of communicating tactile signals to the driver; and

a controller that controls the tactile devices to communicate performance-related information to the driver substantially in real time during movement of the racecar, said controller configured to receive vehicle information, including vehicle information collected by vehicle sensors of the racecar, and configured to use the vehicle information to select tactile messages to convey to the driver, said tactile messages including a stimulation pattern that notifies the driver of wear of a tire of the racecar based at least partly on the vehicle information collected by the vehicle sensors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wear of the tire is based at least partly on a weight of the racecar distributed on a particular wheel of the racecar associated with the tire.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

calculate the wear of the tire based at least partly on the vehicle information collected by the vehicle sensors; and

determine an estimated remaining life of the tire based at least partly on the wear of the tire; and

compare the estimated remaining life of the tire with a predetermined threshold; and

determine whether to output the stimulation pattern based at least partly on a result of the comparison.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the stimulation pattern notifies the driver of the estimated remaining life of the tire.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to convey the stimulation pattern when the estimated remaining life of the tire is below the predetermined threshold.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to convey the stimulation pattern when the estimated remaining life of the tire is above the predetermined threshold.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an optimal tire slip based at least partly on the estimated remaining life of the tire to maximize grip of the tire on a racetrack.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the wear of the tire with a predetermined threshold; and

convey the stimulation pattern to the driver when the wear of the tire is above the predetermined threshold,

wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to at least one of a completed lap around a racetrack, a particular segment of the racetrack, or a particular maneuver of the driver for controlling the racecar.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the wear of the tire with a predetermined threshold; and

convey the stimulation pattern to the driver when the wear of the tire is below the predetermined threshold,

wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to at least one of a completed lap around a racetrack, a particular segment of the racetrack, or a particular maneuver of the driver for controlling the racecar.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulation pattern is communicated to the driver substantially in real time based at least partly on the controller determining a predetermined amount of a weight of the racecar being distributed on a particular wheel of the racecar associated with the tire.

11. A system for improving racecar driver performance, the system comprising:

a tactile apparatus comprising a plurality of tactile devices capable of communicating tactile signals to a driver of a racecar; and

a controller that controls the tactile devices to communicate performance-related information to the driver substantially in real time during movement of the racecar, said controller configured to receive vehicle information, including vehicle information collected by vehicle sensors of the racecar, and configured to use the vehicle information to select tactile messages to convey to the driver, said tactile messages including a stimulation pattern that notifies the driver of wear of a tire of the racecar based at least partly on the vehicle information collected by the vehicle sensors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the wear of the tire is based at least partly on a weight of the racecar distributed on a particular wheel of the racecar associated with the tire.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

calculate the wear of the tire based at least partly on the vehicle information collected by the vehicle sensors;

determine an estimated remaining life of the tire based at least partly on the wear of the tire;

compare the estimated remaining life of the tire with a predetermined threshold; and

determine whether to output the stimulation pattern based at least partly on a result of the comparison.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an optimum tire slip based at least partly on the estimated remaining life of the tire to maximize grip of the tire on a racetrack.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the optimum tire slip based at least partly on spin of the tire relative to other tires of the racecar.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the tire is part of a front wheel of the racecar and the other tires part of rear wheels of the racecar or wherein the tire is part of a rear wheel of the racecar and the other tires are part of front wheels of the racecar.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the optimum tire slip based at least partly on spin of the tire relative to a surface of travel of the racecar.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an optimum steering angle based at least partly on the optimum tire slip to maximize grip of the tire on the racetrack.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the stimulation pattern notifies the driver of a transitional input ramp associated with steering the racecar to achieve the optimum tire slip.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the wear of the tire with a predetermined threshold; and

convey the stimulation pattern to the driver in response to determining a level of the wear of the tire relative to the predetermined threshold,

wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to at least one of a completed lap around a racetrack, a particular segment of the racetrack, or a particular maneuver of the driver for controlling the racecar.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of a vest, a belt, a headband, an armband, a wristband, a forearm band, a thigh band, a steering wheel, a steering wheel paddle, a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, or a driver seat comprises the tactile apparatus.

22. A system for improving racecar driver performance, the system comprising:

a plurality of tactile devices capable of communicating tactile signals to a driver of a racecar; and

a controller that controls the tactile devices to communicate performance-related information to the driver during movement of the racecar, said controller configured to receive vehicle information, including vehicle information collected by vehicle sensors of the racecar, and configured to use the vehicle information to select tactile messages to convey to the driver, said tactile messages including a stimulation pattern that notifies the driver of wear of a tire of the racecar based at least partly on the vehicle information collected by the vehicle sensors.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the wear of the tire is based at least partly on a weight of the racecar distributed on a particular wheel of the racecar associated with the tire.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an optimum tire slip based at least partly on the wear of the tire to maximize grip of the tire on a racetrack.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the optimum tire slip based at least partly on rotation of the tire relative to other tires of the racecar.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the tire is part of a front wheel of the racecar and the other tires are part of rear wheels of the racecar or wherein the tire is part of a rear wheel of the racecar and the other tires are part of front wheels of the racecar.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the optimum tire slip based at least partly on rotation of the tire relative to a surface of travel of the racecar.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the optimum tire slip is based at least partly on the rotation of the tire being slower relative to a speed of travel over the surface of travel of the racecar.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an optimum steering angle based at least partly on the optimum tire slip to maximize grip of the tire on the racetrack.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the stimulation pattern notifies the driver of a transitional input ramp associated with steering the racecar to achieve the optimum tire slip.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one of a vest, a belt, a headband, an armband, a wristband, a forearm band, a thigh band, a steering wheel, a steering wheel paddle, a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, or a driver seat comprises the tactile devices.