Rowing performance optimization system and methods

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system includes a memory, a processor, a display, and a set of sensors. The processor may be coupled to the memory and coupled to a boat. The set of sensors may include a subset of rower sensors associated with a rower and a subset of boat sensors associated with the boat. The subset of boat sensors may be configured to measure at least one environmental condition. The processor may be configured to generate normalized performance data associated with at least one of the boat and the rower for presentation on the display. The normalized performance data may be based in part on the at least one environmental condition measured by the subset of boat sensors. The normalized performance data may also be based in part on data collected by the subset of rower sensors.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a memory;   a processor coupled to the memory and coupled to a boat;   a display; and   a set of sensors including a subset of rower sensors associated with a rower and a subset of boat sensors associated with the boat, the subset of boat sensors configured to measure at least one environmental condition;   the processor configured to generate normalized performance data associated with at least one of the boat and the rower for presentation on the display, the normalized performance data based in part on the at least one environmental condition measured by the subset of boat sensors and based in part on data collected by the subset of rower sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rower sensors include an oarlock sensor, the oarlock sensor comprising:
 a tubular member including a strain gauge assembly, the tubular member defining a pin receptacle configured to receive an oarlock pin of a boat;   a brace housing defining a cavity configured to receive the tubular member and an opening configured to receive an oar collar of an oar; and   an electronics assembly configured to be releasably coupled to the brace housing such that a set of electrical contacts of the electronics assembly is operably coupled to a set of electrical contacts of the tubular member, the electronics assembly including a processor configured to determine a force applied by the oar collar against the brace housing based on an amount of deformation of the tubular member measured by the strain gauge assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display is viewable by a coach associated with the rower during a rowing movement of the rower. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of rower sensors includes:
 an oarlock sensor coupled to an oarlock and configured to measure an angle of movement of an oar and a force of the oar against the oarlock during a rowing movement of the rower,   a foot sensor coupled to the boat and configured to measure a force exerted upon the boat by a foot of the rower during the rowing movement of the rower, and   a seat sensor coupled to a seat of the boat and configured to measure at least one parameter of the seat as the seat translates along a track during the rowing movement of the rower.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one parameter of the seat includes at least one of acceleration, position, or velocity of the seat. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one environmental condition includes a wind speed and a wind direction, the subset of boat sensors including:
 a hull sensor coupled to the boat and including a global positioning system and an inertial measurement assembly, and   a wind sensor coupled to the boat and configured to measure the wind speed and the wind direction.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the global positioning system is configured to measure at least one of a location, a speed, and a heading of the boat. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the inertial measurement assembly is configured to measure at least one of a roll, pitch, yaw, acceleration, and a heading of the boat. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wireless communication router coupled to the boat, the set of sensors being configured for wireless communication with the processor via the at least one wireless communication router. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of sensors are configured for wireless communication with the processor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the normalized performance data may include at least one of a speed of the boat, an acceleration of the boat, a drag of the boat, and a momentum of the boat. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate rower performance data for presentation on the display, the rower performance data including at least one of rower power, rower impulse, rower acceleration, and rower timing. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a first set of data from the set of sensors,   provide a first set of information associated with achieving a rowing performance goal via the display based on the received data,   receive a second set of data from the set of sensors,   determine whether or not the first set of information provided was effective in achieving the rowing performance goal based on the second set of data, and   provide a second set of information associated with achieving the rowing performance goal via the display based on the determination of whether or not the first set of information provided was effective.   
     
     
         14 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tubular member including a strain gauge assembly, the tubular member defining a pin receptacle configured to receive an oarlock pin of a boat;   a brace housing defining a cavity configured to receive the tubular member and an opening configured to receive an oar collar of an oar; and   an electronics assembly configured to be releasably coupled to the brace housing such that a set of electrical contacts of the electronics assembly is operably coupled to a set of electrical contacts of the tubular member, the electronics assembly including a processor configured to determine a force applied by the oar collar against the brace housing based on an amount of deformation of the tubular member measured by the strain gauge assembly.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising a first bushing disposed on a first end of the tubular member and a second bushing disposed on a second end of the tubular member, the tubular member configured to be disposed within the cavity of the brace housing by the first bushing and the second bushing such that the only portion of the tubular member contacting the brace housing is a central portion of the tubular member having a larger lateral extent relative to a central axis of the tubular member than a remainder of the tubular member. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the central portion has a length less than a third of the length of the tubular member. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the cavity of the brace housing has a non-circular cross-sectional shape and the tubular member includes a central portion having a non-circular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the cavity such that the tubular member can be mated with an interior surface of the brace housing defining the cavity. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the tubular member has a central portion having two opposing curved sides coupled together by two opposing flat sides. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising a power storage component configured to be releasably coupled to the enclosure of the electronics assembly to provide operational power to the electronics assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the tubular member and the brace housing are operable to support an oar disposed within the opening of the brace housing relative to the oarlock pin when the electronics assembly is decoupled from the brace housing. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the electronics assembly includes a magnetic sensor, further comprising a magnet configured to be disposed on the oarlock pin below the tubular member. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the strain gauge assembly includes a first pair of strain gauges disposed on first side of the tubular member facing toward the opening and a second pair of strain gauges disposed on a second side of the tubular member facing away from the opening, the strain gauge assembly electrically coupled to the set of electrical contacts of the tubular member.