Uni-lateral sled

Abstract

A measurement system for evaluating athletes using a weighted resistance towing sled to which an athlete is connected using a harness and tether, is described, the measurement device comprising: a force sensing device located in the connection between the athlete and the sled, the force sensing device having a load cell, the force sensing device measuring the force exerted on the sled by the athlete; a second sensing device, the second sensing device having at least one accelerometer; and a communication device for communicating data from the sensing devices, wherein the second sensing device provides data for the calculation of at least linear velocity, linear acceleration and linear distance travelled.

1 . An assessment system for evaluating athletes using a weighted resistance towing sled to which an athlete is connected using a harness and tether, the assessment system comprising:
 a force sensing device located in the connection between the athlete and the sled, the force sensing device having a strain gauge based system, the force sensing device measuring the force exerted on the sled by the athlete, the force sensing device measuring individual force vectors in the horizontal, vertical and transverse plane;   a second sensing device, the second sensing device having at least one accelerometer; and   a communication device for communicating data from the sensing devices,   wherein the second sensing device provides data for the calculation of at least linear velocity, linear acceleration and linear distance travelled.   
     
     
         2 . The assessment system of  claim 1  wherein a second tether connects between the harness and the weighted resistance towing sled, the measurement system including a second force sensing device and wherein the second force sensing device is located between the harness and the weighted resistance towing sled for each tether. 
     
     
         3 . The assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the force sensing device is directly attached to the weighted resistance towing sled. 
     
     
         4 . The assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the force sensing device is directly attached to the harness. 
     
     
         5 . The assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the force sensing device is inline in the tether. 
     
     
         6 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the force sensing device further has at least one accelerometer. 
     
     
         9 . The assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the force sensing device further has at least one gyroscope. 
     
     
         10 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the second sensing device further provides data for the calculation of the force for left and right steps and the ratio between left and right steps. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system for evaluating athletes comprising:
 the assessment system of  claim 1 ; and   software executable on an electronic computing device for receiving the data and computing at least linear velocity, linear acceleration and linear distance travelled.   
     
     
         16 . A measurement system for evaluating athletes comprising:
 the assessment system of  claim 1 ; and   software executable on an electronic computing device for receiving the data and computing at least linear velocity, linear acceleration, linear distance travelled, the force for left and right steps and the ratio between left and right steps.   
     
     
         17 . A kit including:
 the assessment system of  claim 1 ; and   one or more of the group consisting of a weighted resistance towing sled, a harness and a tether.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for evaluating athletes comprising:
 a weighted resistance towing sled;   a force sensing device attached to the weighted resistance towing sled, the force sensing device further having an attachment to which a first tether can be attached, the tether connecting the athlete and the sled, the force sensing device having a load cell to measure the force exerted on the sled by the athlete;   a second sensing device mounted on the sled, the second sensing device having at least one accelerometer; and   a communication device for communicating data from the sensing devices,   wherein the second sensing device provides data for the calculation of at least linear velocity, linear acceleration and linear distance travelled.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the weighted resistance towing sled, includes a rotating hinge joint and wherein the force sensing device is attached to the weighted resistance towing sled via the rotating hinge joint. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  including a second force sensing device weighted resistance towing sled the second force sensing device further having an attachment to which a second tether can be attached, the first and second tethers connecting the athlete and the sled. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the load cell is selected from the group consisting of a 1D load cell and a 2D load cell. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the force sensing device further has at least one accelerometer. 
     
     
         24 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the second force sensing device further provides data for the calculation of the force for left and right steps and the ratio between left and right steps. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A system for evaluating athletes comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 18 ; and   software executable on an electronic computing device for receiving the data and computing at least linear velocity, linear acceleration and linear distance travelled.   
     
     
         31 . A system for evaluating athletes comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 18 ; and   software executable on an electronic computing device for receiving the data and computing at least linear velocity, linear acceleration, linear distance travelled, the force for left and right steps and the ratio between left and right steps.   
     
     
         32 . A method of calculating at least linear velocity, linear acceleration, linear distance travelled of a weighted resistance towing sled having a force sensing device including at least one accelerometer:
 receiving the accelerometer data;   filtering the data to remove noise;   identifying the start of movement; and   calculating linear velocity, linear acceleration, and linear distance travelled from the accelerometer data.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the method further includes calculating the force for left and right steps and the ratio between left and right steps of a weighted resistance towing sled having a force sensing device including a strain gauge and gyroscope, the method including the steps of:
 receiving the strain gauge data; 
 filtering the data to remove noise; 
 calculating the force; 
 receiving the gyroscope data; 
 filtering the data to remove noise; 
 calculating the angle of pull; 
 calculating from the force and the angle of pull the horizontal and vertical forces; 
 detecting the steps; and 
 calculating the force for left and right steps and the ratio between left and right steps.