System and Method for Physical Activity Performance Analysis

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for improving physical activity performance analysis, and more specifically to a system and method for using motion, pressure and position sensors embedded in equipment or footwear of a user to assess physical activity performance. The sensors can collect pressure related data, transmit the data to a server for processing, and the user can receive feedback based on their performance.

1 . A system for analyzing motion and balance of a skier during a skiing activity, the system comprising:
 one or more processors configured and arranged to
 analyze foot pressure measurements of said skier, 
 determine a position of a foot pressure and weight distribution of said skier with respect to one or more force sensors located beneath the feet of the skier in a ski boot of said skier, 
 when the skier achieves a given foot pressure and transition over said sensors, analyze force measurements over the course of said activity using one or more force sensors to obtain a distance weighted sum of force and to determine a distribution of the skier's weight with respect to said ski boot, 
 provide a location of the skier's distance weighted center of force and orientation of said skier, 
 show a path of a skier making turns during said activity, and 
 provide instructions and feedback to said skier regarding the skier's performance of the activity while performing said activity including for training the skier regarding weight placement for each ski turn, 
   
       the system further comprising
 motion and force processing elements disposed in said ski boot; 
 a haptic feedback unit embedded in said ski boot; 
 a smartphone based analysis application in communication with said motion and force processing elements using a wireless radio interface; 
 wherein the motion and force processing elements are configured to output data corresponding to the motion of said skier and to output data corresponding to said pressure values and locations of same with respect to said force sensors, and are further configured to
 determine said skier's distance weighted sum of forces from said force sensors, and 
 to show the path of the skier making turns during said activity; 
 
 and wherein the smartphone based analysis application
 obtains the skier's GPS location using a GPS unit, 
 in a memory unit coupled to said application, stores said output data from said force sensors and from said GPS unit, 
 integrates orientation measurements and said measured data to display a representation of the path of the skier and identify the skier's ski turns including a graphic representation of said path, 
 transmits said output data to a remote server using the smartphone cellular radio interface, 
 processes said output data on said remote server and returning instructional data to said skier based on analysis if said output data by the server, 
 receives map data corresponding to a GPS position data of the skier, 
 uses said GPS position data, center of mass, and other said measured data provide position estimates of said skier's position, 
 provides to a feedback delivery unit a real-time haptic feedback signal applied to said skier's feet using said haptic unit, and 
 graphically displays GPS data corresponding to said skier location as well as skier foot pressure and force data and pitch, roll and direction of said skier's feet on a screen of said smartphone. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . A system for processing location and timing data comprising a smart phone and a plurality of coupled motion and force sensors disposed in a ski boot and providing respective sensor signals to one or more processors, said processors configured and arranged to
 analyze skier force measurements over the course of a ski run using said force sensors to obtain a distance weighted sum of force and to determine a distribution of the skier's weight;   collect and transmit skier GPS location data to a remote server using said smart phone;   provide a visual and numerical representations of each turn in said ski run; and   use local map and GPS data to graphically display said representations on a screen of said smartphone.   
     
     
         3 . A method for analysis of position and timing of skier foot pressure and weight distribution with respect to a plurality of motion and force sensors while making ski turns, comprising:
 determining a path of said skier while making said turns during a ski run;   obtaining position estimates and motion and force distribution data from said motion and force sensors;   obtaining a distance weighted sum of forces corresponding to movement of said skier with respect to said motion and force sensors;   determining a variation of skier foot pressure distributions at different points of said path of said skier while making said turns;   instructing the skier using instructions to said skier based on analysis of said skier's position and timing data; and   collecting skier GPS position and local map data and displaying numerical results of said analysis in the form of graphical representations overlaid on a path of said skier during said ski run.   
     
     
         4 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing computer instructions pertaining to a system for analyzing motion and balance of a skier using motion and force sensors in a skier's ski boot, the instructions causing the system to:
 communicate motion and force data between a processing element disposed in said ski boot of said skier and a remote server;
 obtain location and motion data of said skier from said motion and force sensors in data communication with said processor during a ski run; 
 obtain data representing variations of skier foot pressure distributions at different portions of a path of said skier while making turns during said ski run; 
 obtain said data further comprising recording motion and timing measurement data of said skier foot pressure and a distance weighted sum of force distribution using a plurality of force sensors disposed in said ski boot; 
   monitor said skier foot pressure and a distance weighted sum of force distribution during said ski run;   determine a variation of skier foot pressure distributions at different points of said path of said skier while making said turns;   provide ski instructions to the skier based on said location and timing measurement data including providing instructions from haptic feedback units disposed in insoles of said ski boot;   obtain skier GPS location;   transmit motion, force and GPS location data to a remote server using a smart phone coupled to a remote server using a radio frequency data connection;   provide machine generated feedback using signals to control said haptic feedback unit in said ski boot;   calibrate said sensors;   determine a portion of a ski turn and said path of the skier using said motion and force sensor data after said calibrating;
 obtain a distribution of skier foot force measurements and measurements of said skier's pitch, roll and yaw from said motion sensor; 
 obtain a distance weighted sum of forces corresponding to movement of said skier with respect to said motion and force sensors; and 
   provide visual and numerical results and instructions to said skier indicating results of analyzing said skier's pitch, roll and direction with respect to changes in location and distribution of pressure applied by the skier's feet to said force sensors in said ski boot.   
     
     
         5 . A system for synchronizing the collection of motion and force measurements from motion sensor and force sensor elements disposed in a user's footwear, comprising:
 a processor that processes measured data from motion sensors including an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and from a plurality of force sensors disposed in said footwear;   a local radio frequency communication link coupling said motion and force sensors and a smart phone based analysis application;   a wide area network radio link coupling said smart phone based application and a remote server;   a GPS unit that obtains location data;   said system configured and arranged to analyze motion and balance of the user including analyzing skier foot pressure and a distance weighted sum of force distribution over said force sensors; and   said system configured and arranged to analyze the user's motion in relation to timing of said user activity and beginning of said activity, and to send results of said analyzing steps to said remote server.