Instrumented handles and applications for rowing machines

Abstract

This application relates to apparatus and methods for rowing machine systems. In some examples, an instrumented handle for a rowing machine includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a processor, a transceiver, a memory device, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a pulse sensor. The instrumented handle also includes an actuator embedded in a handle grip of the instrumented handle. The processor is configured to communicate with a server, such as a cloud-based server, via the transceiver. The processor may receive sensor data from the accelerometer, the gyroscope, and the pulse sensor, and may generate rower data based on the received sensor data. Further, the processor may transmit the rower data to the server for updating an application, such as a leaderboard or a simulation. In some examples, the processor provides the rower data for display on a display of the rowing machine.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An instrumented handle for a rowing machine comprising:
 a handle; and   a printed circuit board coupled to the handle, the printed circuit board comprising:
 at least one sensor; and 
 at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the at least one processor configured to:
 receive, from the at least one sensor, sensor data characterizing a row motion; 
 generate rower data based on the sensor data, the rower data characterizing at least one rowing metric; and 
 transmit the rower data to a server, the rower data causing the server to provide an update to an application based on the rower data. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The instrumented handle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide at least a portion of the rower data for display. 
     
     
         3 . The instrumented handle of  claim 1  comprising a load cell, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
 receive a signal from the load cell; 
 determine a rowing force based on the signal; and 
 generate the rower data based on the rowing force, the at least one rowing metric comprising the rowing force. 
 
     
     
         4 . The instrumented handle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscope, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
 receive first sensor data from the accelerometer;   determine an acceleration value based on the first sensor data;   receive second sensor data from the gyroscope;   determine a rotation value based on the second sensor data; and   generate the rower data based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data, the at least one rowing metric comprising the acceleration value and the rotation value.   
     
     
         5 . The instrumented handle of  claim 1  comprising a battery, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to transmit power from the battery to the at least one processor and the at least one sensor via one or more signal traces. 
     
     
         6 . The instrumented handle of  claim 1  comprising a handle attachment component coupled to the handle at a first end, and coupled to a coupler at a second end. 
     
     
         7 . The instrumented handle of  claim 6  comprising a load cell coupled to the coupler, the load cell configured to detect a force on the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The instrumented handle of  claim 1  comprising an actuator, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit a signal to the actuator based on the rower data, the signal causing the actuator to vibrate. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a memory device storing instructions; and   at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory device and configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive rower data from an instrumented handle, the rower data characterizing rower metrics; 
 generate data for an application based on the rower data; 
 provide an update to the application based on the data; 
 generate a status message based on the update to the application, the status message characterizing a change in a metric of a user; and 
 transmit the status message to the instrumented handle based on the update to the application. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the application includes a leaderboard, and wherein the update to the application comprises changing a position of the user on the leaderboard. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the rower data received from the instrumented handle is first rower data, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive second rower data from an additional instrumented handle;   determine the position of the user based on the first rower data and the second rower data; and   provide the update to the application based on the position of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to transmit an additional status message to the additional instrumented handle based on the position of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the status message causes the instrumented handle to display an indication of the change in the metric of the user. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a server comprising at least a first processor; and   an instrumented handle for a rowing machine communicatively coupled to the server over a network, the instrumented handle comprising a printed circuit board with at least a second processor and at least one sensor, the at least second processor configured to:
 receive, from the at least one sensor, sensor data characterizing a row motion; 
 generate rower data based on the sensor data, the rower data characterizing at least one rowing metric; and 
 transmit the rower data to the server over the network, wherein the at least first processor of the server is configured to receive the rower data and provide an update to an application based on the rower data. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least second processor is configured to update a display of the rowing machine based on the rower data. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the instrumented handle comprises a load cell, and wherein the at least second processor is configured to:
 receive a signal from the load cell;   determine a rowing force based on the signal; and   generate the rower data based on the rowing force, the at least one rowing metric comprising the rowing force.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the instrumented handle comprises an actuator, and wherein the at least second processor is configured to transmit a signal to the actuator based on the rower data, the signal causing the actuator to vibrate. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscope, and wherein the at least second processor is configured to:
 receive first sensor data from the accelerometer;   determine an acceleration value based on the first sensor data;   receive second sensor data from the gyroscope;   determine a rotation value based on the second sensor data; and   generate the rower data based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data, the at least one rowing metric comprising the acceleration value and the rotation value.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least first processor of the server is configured to:
 generate a status message based on the update to the application, the status message characterizing a change in a metric of a user; and   transmit the status message to the instrumented handle based on the update to the application.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a testing computing device is configured to update a user interface based on the status message.