Bicycle data acquisition

• US 20030191567A1
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Leonard Gentilcore
• Original Assignee: Michael Leonard Gentilcore
• Inventors: Gentilcore, Michael Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 6,836,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/16 by evaluating the time-derivative of a measured speed signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/486 delivered by photo-electric detectors

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided which enables a performer to enhance performance evaluation of performing with a human-powered vehicle having one or more wheel(s) wherein measurements of (1) position, velocity and acceleration of said vehicle out of a starting gate and, optionally, one or more corner(s) of a performance track and, optionally, (2) position, velocity and acceleration and/or conservation of momentum of said vehicle over one or more various obstacles within the performance track are made with a resolution of sufficient sensitivity to make such improvements. The invention has particular application in cycling activities, such as BMX cycling.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

(1) a wheel assembly comprising a wheel,

(2) a crank shaft assembly and two or more pedals attached to said crank shaft assembly, said crank shaft assembly in communication with said wheel

(3) a meter assembly capable of producing a data set for determining the location, velocity and acceleration vectors relative to an initial time and an initial position, and

(4) a frame connected to said wheel assembly and said metering assembly;

said meter assembly being effective to produce a sensitivity in said data set to enable resolution of position, velocity, and acceleration vectors produced from force applied to each of said pedals and, optionally, said handlebar assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a computer assembly capable of recording said data set.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a computer assembly capable of calculating said position, velocity and acceleration vectors from said data set.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said meter assembly comprises an array of first metering devices mounted on said wheel and a second metering devices mounted on said crank shaft assembly or said frame so that said first and second metering devices interact to produce said data set.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer assembly is able to interpret said data to determine said position, velocity, and acceleration vectors.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 with a sensitivity of at least about one-half of a revolution of said first wheel or greater.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 with a sensitivity of at least about {fraction (1/1000)} of a revolution of said first wheel or greater.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handlebar assembly attached to said frame, and said first and second metering devices further being effective to produce a sensitivity in said data set to enable resolution of position, velocity, and acceleration vectors produced from force applied to said handlebar assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame is a part of a BMX bicycle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame is a part of a bobsled mock-up.

11. A method of performance evaluation of performing with a human-powered vehicle having one or more wheel(s) wherein measurements of (1) position, velocity, and acceleration of said vehicle out of a starting point and, optionally, one or more corner(s) of a performance track and, optionally, (2) position, velocity, and acceleration and/or conservation of momentum of said vehicle over one or more various obstacles within the performance track are made with a resolution of at least {fraction (1/64)} revolution of at least one wheel.

16. The method of claim 11 in which acceleration measurements are made to measure acceleration vectors of the apparatus and a rider on said apparatus by using one or more transducers mounted on said rider and one or more tilt meters mounted on said apparatus.

12. An apparatus comprising

(1) a wheel assembly comprising a first wheel, two or more pedals and a crank shaft assembly, said crank shaft assembly in communication with said first wheel and said assembly comprising an array of first metering devices,

(2) structural means for producing a data set containing values,

(3) a computer assembly capable of interpreting said data set to determine the location, velocity, and acceleration vectors relative to an initial time and an initial position, said first and second metering devices being effective to produce a sensitivity in said data set to enable resolution of position, velocity, and acceleration vectors produced from force applied to each of said pedals.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said structural means comprises a laser device effective to provide measurement.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said structural means comprises an inertial device effective to provide measurement.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said position, velocity, and acceleration vectors are produced from force applied to said pedals and further from force applied to a set of handlebars attached to said apparatus.