Adaptive exercise equipment apparatus and method of use thereof

Abstract

The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using computer configured exercise equipment and an electric motor. A computer-controlled robotic resistance system is used for training, diagnosis and/or therapy. The resistance system comprises: a subject interface, software control, a controller, an electric servo assist/resist motor, an actuator, and/or a subject sensor. The system overcomes the limitations of the existing robotic rehabilitation, weight training, and cardiovascular training systems by providing a training and/or rehabilitation system that adapts a resistance or force applied to a user interactive element in response to the user's interaction with the training system, a physiological strength curve, and/or sensor feedback. For example, the system optionally provides for an automatic reconfiguration and/or adaptive load adjustment based upon real time measurement of a user's interaction with the system or sensor based observation by the exercise system as it is operated by the subject.

1 . An exercise apparatus configured for use by an operator, comprising:
 an operator interface;   a cable linked to said operator interface;   an electric motor configured to supply a resistive force to movement of said cable;   a sensor configured to provide a feedback sensor reading; and   a controller electrically connected to said motor, said controller configured to use the feedback sensor reading in control of the resistive force to movement of said cable.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to vary the resistive force to said cable during an exercise repetition based on the feedback sensor reading. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the feedback sensor reading relates to at least one of:
 applied load on said cable;   position of said operator interface;   velocity of a movable element of said exercise apparatus; and   acceleration of a movable component of said exercise apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor reading comprises a measure of movement of at least one of:
 said cable;   said motor; and   said subject interface.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sensor comprising:
 a stepper motor encoder linked to said electric motor, said encoder configured to generate a motor movement reading via marking rotation of a shaft of said motor, said controller determining movement and/or position of said subject interface using the motor movement reading and a measure of time.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said controller configured to alter the resistive force to movement of said cable based on position of said operator interface as measured by said stepper motor encoder. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sensor comprising:
 a hand control sensor, said hand control sensor:
 configured to sense operation of a hand control by the operator; and 
 configured to generate a resistance change signal sent to said motor via said controller, said resistance change signal altering the resistive force applied by said electric motor to said cable. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sensor comprising:
 a voice sensor configured to generate a voice control signal, said voice control signal used for altering at least one of:
 velocity of said operator interface; and 
 the resistive force supplied by said electric motor. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sensor comprising:
 a foot control sensor configured for use by the operator to alter at least one of:
 a movement velocity of said operator interface; and 
 the resistive force supplied by said electric motor. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , said foot control sensor configured to measure a pressure applied by said operator. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sensor comprising:
 a visual feedback system configured to provide information on movement of the operator.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said controller configured within a single repetition to:
 apply a first resistance to movement of said cable along an axis in a first direction during a first time period; and   apply a second resistance to movement of said cable along said axis in a direction opposed to said first direction during a second time period.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said electric motor configured to apply assistance to movement of said cable. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said motor alters the assistance to movement using the feedback sensor reading. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said controller configured to automatically adjust resistance applied to said resistance cable between repetitions of movement of said subject interface element. 
     
     
         16 . A method of exercising an operator, comprising the steps of:
 providing an exercise apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
 an operator interface; 
 a cable linked to said operator interface; 
   supplying a resistive force to said cable using an electric motor;   generating a feedback sensor reading with a sensor; and   controlling said motor with a controller electrically connected to said motor, said controller configured to use the feedback sensor reading in control of the resistive force to said cable.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said sensor comprises a heart rate monitor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said sensor comprises a blood pressure monitor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said sensor comprises a wireless receiver, said wireless receiver configured to receive information about the operator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , the feedback sensor reading comprising a velocity tracking signal, said operator using feedback related to said velocity tracking signal to alter exertion during a repetition.