Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ROWING PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM AND METHODS
Cross-Reference to Related Application
[1] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No.
63/248,842, entitled -Rowing Performance Optimization System and Methods,"
filed
September 27, 2021; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
Background
[2] Athletes and coaches consistently aim to optimize athlete performance.
The
more performance data points that an athlete and/or a coach is able to gather
and review, the
more the athlete or coach are able to use that information to improve the
performance of the
athlete (e.g., by identifying performance related adjustments). Furthermore,
in group sports,
particularly athletic performances requiring the coordination of a set of
athletes, information
related to the performance of individuals may be helpful to improve the
coordination and
overall performance of the group. Finally, especially with respect to rowing,
the ability to
account for environmental conditions and characteristics of the athletic
equipment (e.g., the
boat), would allow for meaningful comparisons between athletic performances at
different
times and in different circumstances to determine whether a particular group
of athletes is
improving and/or more effective than another group of athletes.
1131 Thus, systems and methods for acquiring data related to
an athletic
performance, analyzing such data, and providing feedback to a coach and/or
athlete, in real-
time and/or post-performance will help to assess and improve athletic
performances.
Summary
[4] 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.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
151 FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a performance
optimization system,
according to an embodiment.
[6] FIG 2 is a flow chart of a method for optimizing
performance, according to an
embodiment.
171 FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for optimizing
performance, according to an
embodiment.
181 FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a performance
optimization system,
according to an embodiment.
191 FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a performance
optimization system coupled to
a boat, according to an embodiment.
1101 FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a system for
optimizing performance,
according to an embodiment.
1111 FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a system for
optimizing performance,
according to an embodiment.
[12] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a system for optimizing
performance
including an athlete-powered boat and a launch, according to an embodiment.
[13] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of an oarlock assembly, according
to an
embodiment.
[14] FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of an oarlock assembly, according
to an
embodiment.
[15] FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a foot sensor assembly,
according to an
embodiment.
[16] FIG. 12 is a top view of a foot sensor assembly, according to an
embodiment.
[17] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the foot sensor assembly of FIG. 12
coupled
to a boat.
[18] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a seat sensor assembly,
according to an
embodiment.
[19] FIGS. 15 and 16 are various bottom views of a seat sensor assembly
coupled
to a seat of a boat, according to an embodiment.
1201 FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of a hull sensor
assembly, according to an
embodiment.
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[21] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a hull sensor assembly, according to
an
embodiment.
[22] FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration of a wind sensor assembly,
according to an
embodiment.
[23] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a wind sensor assembly, according to
an
embodiment.
[24] FIG. 21 is a schematic illustration of an oarlock assembly, according
to an
embodiment.
[25] FIGS. 22-24A are schematic illustrations of various views of an
oarlock
assembly, according to an embodiment.
[26] FIG. 24B is a schematic illustration of an oarlock assembly, according
to an
embodiment.
[27] FIG. 25 is a schematic illustration of a portion of a brace housing
and bushings
of thc oarlock assembly of FIG. 22, according to an embodiment.
[28] FIG. 26 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a magnet
of the
oarlock assembly of FIG. 22, according to an embodiment.
[29] FIGS. 27-29 are schematic illustrations of various views of an oarlock
assembly, according to an embodiment.
[30] FIG. 30 is a schematic illustrations of an oarlock assembly, according
to an
embodiment.
[31] FIGS. 31-33 are schematic illustrations of various views of an oarlock
assembly, according to an embodiment.
[32] FIGS. 34-36 are schematic illustrations of various views of an oarlock
assembly, according to an embodiment.
[33] FIGS. 37 and 38 are perspective views of an electronics assembly,
according
to an embodiment.
[34] FIG. 39 is a schematic illustration including various views of an
electronics
assembly, according to an embodiment.
[35] FIG. 40 is a schematic illustration including various views of an
electronics
assembly, according to an embodiment.
[36] FIGS. 41-44 are schematic illustration of various arrangements of
mobile
devices and sensors relative to a boat, according to various embodiments.
[37] FIGS. 45-51 are schematic illustrations of example display screens of
a mobile
device, according to an embodiment.
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Detailed Description
1381 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.
1391 In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, from a
set of rower
sensors associated with a rower, a set of rower performance data. A set of
boat performance
data and a data associated with at least one environmental condition may be
received from a
set of boat sensors associated with a boat. Normalized performance data of at
least one of the
set of rower performance data and the set of boat performance data may be
generated based
in part on the data associated with the at least one environmental condition.
The normalized
performance data may be displayed.
1401 In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an oarlock, a
face plate, a first
force transducer, a second force transducer, and an electronics assembly. The
oarlock defines
a pin receptacle configured to receive an oarlock pin of a boat and a brace
housing defining
an opening configured to receive an oar collar of an oar. The face plate is
disposed within the
opening of the brace housing and coupled to a surface of the brace housing.
The first force
transducer is disposed in a first location between the face plate and the
surface of the brace
housing. The second force transducer is disposed in a second location between
the face plate
and the surface of the brace housing. The electronics assembly is coupled to
the first force
transducer and the second force transducer, the electronics assembly including
a processor
configured to determine a force of the oar collar against the face plate
during a rowing motion
of the oar, the electronics assembly including an inertial measurement
assembly such that an
angle of the oar collar relative to the face plate may be determined based on
acceleration data
sensed by the inertial measurement assembly during the rowing motion of the
oar.
1411 In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a set of
rower performance
data associated with each unique individual from a plurality of unique
individuals. A set of
one environmental condition data associated with at least one environmental
condition may
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be received. Normalized performance data of the set of performance data may be
generated
based in part on the environmental condition data and in part on the
performance data
associated with each unique individual from the plurality of unique
individuals.
1421 In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tubular
member, a brace
housing, and an electronics assembly. The tubular member includes a strain
gauge assembly
and defines a pin receptacle configured to receive an oarlock pin of a boat.
The brace
housing defines a cavity configured to receive the tubular member and an
opening configured
to receive an oar collar of an oar. The electronics assembly is 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 includes 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.
1431 In some embodiments, such as any of the embodiments
described herein, data-
driven indicators of rowing performance may be communicated to athletes and
coaches for
the purpose of performance optimization. A system including a sensing array,
data
aggregator, intelligence engine, and feedback devices may collectively create
a virtuous
feedback loop, enabling the rapid optimization of complex three-dimensional
athletic tasks in
coordination across a set of independent athletes In some embodiments, the
system may be
coupled to rowing environment at several touchpoints. The sensing array, for
example, may
be installed on a rowing shell, with each component configured in such a
manner as to detect
a particular variable in a biophysical system. The data aggregator may be
located in the
vicinity of the sensing array and may wirelessly aggregate the sensed
biophysical variables
into a time-synchronized data store. The intelligence engine may be connected
to the data
aggregator via wireless protocol or may be included within a common system or
device (e.g.,
a mobile device such as a mobile phone), and may be equipped with software
that derives
metrics, insights, and feedback via a variety of mathematical and statistical
techniques.
Finally, the feedback devices may display derived actionable data points
and/or
recommended actions to rowers and/or coaches for the purposes of adjusting the
sensed
behavior in an optimized manner. In some embodiments, feedback may be provided
via a
common system or device also including the intelligence engine and/or the data
aggregator
(e.g., a mobile device such as a mobile phone). The system may provide
feedback in real-
time during live training sessions and/or in training review sessions.
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1441 FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a performance
optimization system 100. In
some embodiments, the system 100 may be used to collect performance data
and/or analyze
performance data to identify rower performance metrics. In some embodiments,
the system
100 may be used to normalize performance data for environmental variables as a
method for
determining optimal rower performance parameters. In some embodiments, the
system 100
may be used to normalize performance data (e.g., boat speed) for environmental
variables as
a method for comparing rower performance parameters measured under different
environmental conditions.
1451 The system 100 includes a memory 110, a processor 120,
one or more displays
130, and a set of sensors 140. As shown, the processor 120 may be operatively
coupled to the
memory 110 and coupled to a boat 180. The set of sensors 140 may include a
subset of rower
sensors 150 associated with a rower and a subset of boat sensors 160
associated with the boat
180. In some embodiments, the subset of boat sensors 160 may be configured to
measure at
least one environmental condition. The processor 120 may be configured to
generate
normalized performance data (e.g., a boat speed) associated with at least one
of the boat 180
and/or the rower for presentation on the display(s) 130. The normalized
performance data
may be based in part on the at least one environmental condition measured by
the subset of
boat sensors 160. The normalized performance data may also be based in part on
data
collected by the subset of rower sensors 150.
1461 As shown in FIG. 1, the set of sensors 140 (i.e., the
rower sensors 150 and the
boat sensors 150), the processor 120, and the display(s) 130 may be in
wireless network
communication via the wireless network 170. The wireless network 170 may be or
include,
for example, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless network. Alternatively or
additionally, the wireless network 170 may include or be configured to operate
using, for
example, any suitable type of wireless communication, such as WIFI, 5G, and/or
LTE. The
system 100 may include or be in operative communication with, for example, a
cloud-based
server (also referred to as "the cloud") and/or a centralized server. For
example, as shown in
FIG. 1, the system 100 may include a command center 106. In some embodiments,
one or
more of the boat sensors 160, the rower sensors 150, the processor 120, or the
display(s) 130
may include or be coupled to a transceiver to facilitate wireless
communication with each
other and/or the command center 106 via the wireless network 170.
1471 The command center 106 (e.g., a cloud-based server, a
centralized server
and/or the like) may include a memory 106A operably coupled to a processor
106B and a
transceiver 106C configured to facilitate wireless network communications with
the set of
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sensors 140, the processor 120, and/or the display(s) 130. The memory 106A may
store a
software application ("app") 106D. In some implementations, an administrator
of the
command center 106 interacts with the software app 106D via an administrator
view of the
app, rendered via a graphical user interface (GUI) of a compute device in
wireless or wired
network communication therewith, and a user (e.g., an athlete, coach, or
coxswain) interacts
with the software app 106D via a user view of the app, rendered via a
graphical user interface
(GUI) of a compute device of the user in wireless network communication with
the command
center 106. The app 106D may include one or more software modules 106E, such
as a data
analytics portal viewable and/or using a user interface of a computing device
such as a
mobile device, such as the mobile device 102 described below, a mobile device
108, or
another mobile device or such as a laptop or desktop computer. In some
embodiments, the
data analytics portal may additionally or alternatively be accessed via a web
bowser. The data
analytics portal may allow a user to view post-practice and/or live data
and/or analysis based
on data collected by the set of sensors and transmitted to the command center
106 (e.g., via a
BLE connection with the mobile device 102 and a wireless network connection
between the
mobile device 102 and the command center 106). The software module(s) 106E may
include
instructions to cause the processor 106B to request, store, and/or transmit
sensor data and/or
generated performance data based on the sensor data. The software module(s)
106E may
include instructions to cause the processor 106B to store the sensor and/or
generated
performance data and, optionally, transmit the data to one or more requestors
via the wireless
network 170 (e.g., requestors associated with remote compute devices such as
mobile
device 102, mobile device 108, or a third party). In some implementations, the
software
module(s) 106E may be configured to generate and maintain a list or database
of sensors,
athletes, and/or groups of athletes and their associated raw data and/or
generated performance
data and metrics based on the raw data. The software module(s) 106E may also
include
instructions for generating performance data or metrics based on received
sensor data and
performance data or metrics generated by the processor 120, and may include
instructions for
generating such performance data or metrics based on additional user input via
interaction
with, for example, the software app 106D (e.g., a request for particular
performance data or
metrics based on, for example, comparison between two rowing sessions of an
individual or
different athletes or of two rowing sessions of a single set of athletes or
between two sets of
athletes). The command center 106 may be configured to provide post-rowing
session (e.g.,
post-practice) viewing of performance data and/or raw sensor data and,
optionally, to provide
live analysis of performance data and/or raw sensor data during a rowing
session.
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1481 The rower data measured by the rower sensors 150 may
include an angle of
movement and associated force of an oar against an oarlock during a rowing
movement (e.g.,
a stroke) of the rower, a force applied by one or both feet of a rower on a
surface (e.g., a foot
stretcher of the boat) during a rowing movement of the rower, and/or an
acceleration,
distance traveled, a position (e.g., associated with particular moments or
portions of the
rowing movement) of the seat upon which the rower is seated (e.g., along one
or more rails)
during a rowing movement of the rower. The rower sensors 150 may also include
physiological sensors configured to measure physiological data of a particular
rower. For
example, the rower sensors 150 may include a heart rate monitor. The boat data
measured by
the boat sensors 160 may include a global positioning system (GPS) position or
change in
position of the boat (e.g., including data related to the GPS latitude,
longitude, time, speed,
and angle of movement of the GPS), a heading of the boat, a speed of the boat,
a roll, pitch,
and/or yaw of the boat, and/or an acceleration of the boat (e.g., based on
accelerometer data).
The environmental data measured by the boat sensors 160 may include wind
speed, wind
angle, ambient air temperature, water speed, current, air humidity, and/or
salinity. The rower
data and/or the boat data may be measured and analyzed in real time and/or
based on a
particular time period, distance, programmed exercise or portion of exercise.
For example,
the processor 120 may be configured to calculate an average and/or generate
minimum and
maximum values for any of the data measured by the set of sensors 140 based on
the
designated time period, distance, or exercise.
1491 The rower sensors 150 may include, for example, an
oarlock sensor, a foot
sensor, and/or a seat sensor for each rower. The boat sensors 160 may include,
for example, a
hull sensor including a GPS and an inertial measurement assembly (also
referred to as an
inertial measurement unit or an IMU), a wind sensor, and/or a temperature
sensor. The boat
180 may be, for example, a shell (also referred to as a crew boat). The IMU
may include, for
example, a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer. The boat 180 may include a set
of seats upon
which a set of rowing athletes (also referred to as rowers) may sit.
Additionally, the boat 180
may include a seat for a coxswain. Although FIG. 1 shows the system 100 as
being couplable
to (e.g., mountable to) the boat 180, in some embodiments, the system 100 may
optionally
include the boat 180. The rower sensor 150 and the boat sensors 160 may be
mounted to the
boat 180 via any suitable coupling mechanisms (e.g., suction cups, adhesive
tape, glue,
and/or adjustable loop fasteners). In some embodiments, a stiff float may be
dragged by the
boat including a sensor for measuring characteristics of the water (e.g.,
current direction,
speed, water temperature).
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1501 Each sensor of the set of sensors 140 may include a base
unit including a
communication assembly and a power storage device. The communication assembly
may be,
for example, a wireless communication assembly (including, for example, a
transmitter or a
transceiver) for providing sensed data to the processor 120 and/or the one or
more displays
130 via any suitable wireless communication method (e.g., via WIFI and
Bluetooth0). The
power storage device may include any suitable power storage device for
providing
operational power to the sensor components, such as, for example, a battery
(e.g., a 1200
mAh lithium polymer battery). The power storage device may include any
suitable power
storage device for providing operational power to the sensor components, such
as, for
example, a battery (e.g., a 1200 mAh lithium polymer battery). In some
embodiments, the
power storage device may have a battery life of greater than one month. In
some
embodiments, the sensors of the set of sensors 140 may be configured to go
into a low-power
sleep mode when not in use for a predetermined period of time. In some
embodiments, the
sensors of the set of sensors 140 may be configured to automatically wake up
from the sleep
mode and transition to an activated mode upon engagement with any buttons or
sensing
elements of the sensors and/or via engagement with the mobile device 102
signaling intended
use of the sensors 140 for a rowing session (e.g., via opening or selecting
certain modes of
the software app 106D using the mobile device 102). Each sensor of the set of
sensors 140
may optionally include a timing component. The timing component may be used to
synchronize the timing of data collection across the various sensors The
timing component
may be, for example, a real time clock. In some embodiments, alternatively or
in addition to
each sensor including a timing component, the processor 120 may include a
timing
component (e.g., an internal or built-in clock) that is used to time-
synchronize all sensor data.
The timing between all of the sensors 140 (e.g., oarlock sensors) and the
mobile device 102
may be synchronized, for example, to within 1 millisecond. For example, the
processor 120
may assign a timestamp to all sensor data received by the processor 120 based
on the timing
component of the processor 120 or the mobile device 102. In some embodiments,
the mobile
device 102 may be paired with the sensors of the set of sensors 140 such that
the mobile
device 102 may wirelessly receive sensor data from the sensors in real-time
(e.g., as it is
collected by the sensors of the set of sensors 140) and may associate the
sensor data with time
data (e.g., a timestamp) for storage in the memory 110 and/or processing by
the processor
120. In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 may be paired with and
simultaneously
receive sensor data from any suitable number of sensors of the set of sensors
140 (e.g., one,
some, or all of the sensors 140). In some embodiments, the mobile device 102
may
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simultaneously receive sensor data from all sensors associated with a
performance of a
particular athlete of a set of athletes on the boat 180 (e.g., physiological
sensors, one or two
oarlock sensors, a seat sensor, a foot sensor, and/or any environmental
sensors). In some
embodiments, the mobile device 102 may simultaneously receive sensor data from
all sensors
associated with a performance of a subset of athletes or all of the athletes
rowing on the boat
180 (e.g., an oarlock sensor or two oarlock sensors per athlete). In some
embodiments, the
mobile device 102 may simultaneously receive sensor data from, for example,
two, three,
four, five, six, seven, or eight oarlock sensors of the set of sensors 140 and
provide data
including or based on such data for viewing on the display 130.
1511
Furthermore, each sensor of the set of sensors 140 may include one or more
enclosures within which one or more of the remaining components of each sensor
may be
housed (e.g., the communication assembly, the power storage device, and/or the
timing
component). The enclosure(s) may be watertight such that an interior of each
enclosure is
fluidically isolated from an exterior of each enclosure, preventing splashed
water from
reaching an interior of each enclosure. In some embodiments, the enclosures
should be
waterproof IP68. Each sensor may include an on/off button or switch and status
lights (e.g.,
disposed in openings defined by the enclosure(s)). Thus, engagement with the
on/off button
or switch of a sensor may activate and deactivate the sensor such that power
from the power
storage device may be conserved when the sensor is not in use. The status
lights may indicate
a status of the sensor (e.g., on, off, low power, etc.).
1521
The processor 120 may be any suitable processor configured to receive data
from the set of sensors 140 and generate normalized performance data based on
the data from
the set of sensors 140. For example, the processor 120 may be a Dell XPS or a
processor
included in (e.g., built into or internal to) a mobile device such as a mobile
phone or tablet
(e.g., an Android mobile phone or an iPhone). The memory 110 may be any
suitable memory
configured to store data (e.g., in the form of a list or database table
storing data records). For
example, the memory 110 may be a memory built into a mobile device such as a
mobile
phone or tablet (e.g., an Android mobile phone or an iPhone). In some
embodiments, the data
may include raw data measured by the set of sensors 140 and transmitted to the
processor 120
(e.g., via the wireless network). In some embodiments, the data may include
performance
data that has been generated by the processor 120 and derived from the data
transmitted from
the set of sensors 140 to the processor 120. In some embodiments, the
normalized data
generated by the processor 120 is a boat speed or power that has been
normalized with
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respect to a set of environmental factors (e.g., current, no wind, constant
air humidity,
temperature, constant water temperature, and/or salinity).
1531 In some embodiments, one or more of the displays 130 may
be viewable by a
rower during a rowing movement of the rower. In some embodiments, the system
100 may
include a set of displays 130, with each display 130 viewable by one or more
rowers (e.g.,
each display may be coupled to the boat 180 such that it is associated with
and viewable by a
rower of the set of rowers). In some embodiments, the display 130 or an
additional display
may be viewable by a coxswain associated with (e.g., seated in) the boat 180.
In some
embodiments, the display 130 or an additional display may be viewable by a
coach associated
with the rower during a rowing movement of the rower (e.g., a coach on a
launch boat).
11541 Each display 130 may display information associated with
data measured by
the set of sensors 140. In some embodiments, each display 130 may display raw
data
measured by the set of sensors 140. In some embodiments, each display 130 may
display
performance data that has been generated by the processor 120 based on the
data transmitted
from the set of sensors 140 to the processor 120. For example, each display
130 may display
performance data of the boat 180 and/or rower(s) normalized for environmental
variables.
The displayed performance data may be individual and/or collective performance
data of all
of the rowers on the boat 180 during a rowing operation. Thus, in some
embodiments, each
rower may be able to view normalized performance data including information
associated
with their individual performance during a rowing operation and information
associated with
the collective performance of the set of athletes.
1551 In some embodiments, the processor 120, the memory 110,
and the display
130 may be included in a mobile device 102 (also referred to as a smart
device, a base device,
and/or a wireless device). For example, the processor 120, the memory 110, and
the display
130 may be operatively coupled together and share a common housing. The mobile
device
102 may be, for example, a mobile phone or tablet (e.g., an Android mobile
phone or an
iPhone). In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 may optionally include one
or more
sensors 140X which may include one or more of the boat sensors 160 (e.g., one
or more
environmental sensors such as a global positioning system and/or an inertial
measurement
unit including, for example, a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer) and/or may
be configured
to request, retrieve, and/or receive data sensed by a third party (e.g.,
environmental data
available via a source such as a weather website), save such data in the
memory 110, and/or
process such data using the processor 120. In some embodiments, the mobile
device 102 in
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combination with at least one of the boat sensors 160 and/or at least one of
the rower sensors
150 may be identified as a node assembly 104.
1561
In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 is configured to receive sensor
data from at least one sensor of the set of sensors 140 (e.g., via BLE) and
transmit sensor data
and/or data generated by the mobile device 102 (e.g., by the processor 120)
based on the
sensor data to the command center 106 (e.g., a cloud-based server) via, for
example, WIFI,
5G, and/or LIE. In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 may optionally live
stream
data received from the set of sensors 140 and/or live stream data generated
based on the
received sensor data (e.g., performance metrics) to the command center 106. In
some
embodiments, the mobile device 102 may be paired (e.g., via BLE) with one or
more sensors
of the set of sensors 140 such that the one or more sensors recognizes the
mobile device 102
and/or vice versa (e.g., upon activation of the mobile device 102 and/or the
one or more
sensors) and such that the one or more sensors may transmit sensor data to the
mobile device
102. In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 may be paired with a sensor of
the set of
sensors 140 using a process in which the user initiates a pairing mode of the
sensor (e.g., via
pressing or holding a button on the sensor) and then selects the sensor from a
list of available
devices presented on a display 130 of the mobile device 102. In some
embodiments, the
mobile device 102 may automatically re-connect to receive sensor data from the
paired
sensor upon activation of the paired sensor in a suitable proximity (e.g.,
within a BLE
transmission distance) of the mobile device 102. In some embodiments, a user
may interact
with the mobile device 102 (e.g., with the software app 106D) to select a boat
from a list of
saved boats, causing the mobile device 102 to automatically pair with a set of
sensors 140
associated with the selected boat (e.g., via an earlier pairing or assignment
process). Thus, the
user may be able to choose any boat of a set of boats, each boat already
having sensors of the
set of sensors 140 mounted thereto, optionally couple a power storage device
to one or more
of the sensors mounted to the boat, releasably secure (e.g., mount) the mobile
device 102 of
the user to the boat, and then select the boat on a mobile device 102 such
that the mobile
device 102 automatically pairs with the sensors associated with the selected
boat and may
receive data therefrom. In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 (e.g., the
processor 120
in combination with a transmitter, transceiver, and/or antenna) may be
configured to
automatically upload sensor data and/or data generated by the processor 120
based on the
sensor data (e.g., performance metrics and/or data analysis reports) upon
establishment of a
connection between the mobile device 102 and the command center 106 (e.g.,
upon
establishment of a WIFI, 5G, or LTE connection for the mobile device 102).
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1571 In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 is configured
to provide live
performance data via the integrated display 130. For example, in some
embodiments, the
mobile device 102 may provide live, per stroke performance metrics as feedback
to the rower
if the mobile device is mounted in a location visible to the rower. In some
embodiments, the
mobile device 102 may provide live, per stroke performance metrics to a non-
rower user of
the mobile device 102, such as a coach or coxswain. In some embodiments, the
mobile device
102 is configured to stream live, per stroke data and other raw data gathered
by sensors of the
set of sensors 140 (optionally including the sensor(s) 140X) to the command
center 106
directly (e.g., using 5G or LTE) using a data plan via cell service or via a
WIFI hotspot to
which the mobile device 102 is connected, which may be mounted to the boat 180
or to a
nearby boat (e.g., a launch used by a coach).
1581 In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 may include a
watertight
enclosure such that the components of the mobile device 102 will not be
damaged if water
contacts the mobile device 102. For example, the mobile device 102 may include
a watertight
enclosure that is waterproof IP68. In some embodiments, the mobile device 102
may be
mounted in a waterproof case (e.g., mounted to the boat 180 via a mounting
assembly that
includes a waterproof case through which the display 130 is visible).
1591 In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 and/or the
sensors of the set of
sensors 140 may be updated wirelessly (e.g., by the command center 106). For
example, the
command center 106 may send software updates to the mobile device 102 via the
wireless
network 170 and the mobile device 102 may update (e.g., update the processor)
based on the
instructions in the software updates. In some embodiments, the mobile device
102 may send
software updates one or more sensors of the set of sensors 140 based on
information provided
by the command center 106 to the mobile device 102 such that the one or more
sensors
update their operation based on the software updates.
1601 In some embodiments, one of more of the sensors of the
set of sensors 140
may include a modular power storage device and a modular electronics assembly,
with each
including one or more enclosures such that the power storage device and/or the
electronics
assembly may be easily mounted to and/or separated from the boat 180. Thus,
the power
storage device may easily be decoupled for recharging and/or replacement with
a charged
power storage device. In some embodiments, the power storage device may be
configured to
be wirelessly charged (e.g., via contact with a wireless charger). The
electronics assembly
may be easily decoupled from the boat 180 and replaced in the event of a
malfunction.
Additionally, a user may easily decouple an electronics assembly and/or a
power storage
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device from a first boat 180 after use of the first boat 180 for a rowing
session and then
couple the electronics assembly and/or the power storage device to a second
boat 180 for
another rowing session of the user. In some embodiments, the user may also
transfer the
mobile device 102 from the first boat 180 to the second boat 180, and thus the
sensors remain
paired with the mobile device 102 for a seamless transition between boats. In
some
embodiments, the power storage device may be configured to slide-on to a
mounting plate of
the electronics assembly and/or the electronics assembly may be configured to
slide-on to a
mounting plate coupled to the boat 180 (e.g., to a component such as an
oarlock housing
mounted on the boat). In some embodiments, the power storage device may be
configured to
clip on, snap on, tie on, or latch to the electronics assembly and/or the
electronics assembly
may be configured to clip on, snap on, tie on, or latch to the boat 180 (e.g.,
to a component
such as an oarlock housing mounted on the boat). In some embodiments, any
suitable
reversible coupling mechanism may be included
1611
In some embodiments, the data analytics portal (DAP) described above may
be used to allow data to be shared between and among users of the system 100.
For example,
the system 100 may include one or more additional mobile devices 108 that may
be the same
or similar in structure and/or function to the mobile device 102. The one or
more mobile
devices 108 may be used by rowers of the same boat, rowers of different boats,
one or more
coxswains, one or more coaches, and/or any other interested parties. In some
embodiments, a
user of the mobile device 102 may use the mobile device 102 and/or the command
center 106
to automatically share data associated with a rowing session with other users
(e.g., users
linked to the first user's profile or in a common group with the first user).
In some
embodiments, a user may share specific data and/or training plans with one or
more users not
on the user's list for automatic sharing through interacting with the DAP. In
some
embodiments, another user (e.g., a coach) may provide feedback (e.g.,
modifications) on a
training plan received from the first user and/or feedback (e.g., notes) on a
rowing session for
review by the first user. In some embodiments, the user may chare data
associated with a
rowing session via social media via the mobile device 102 (e.g., automatically
upon
establishing an internet connection). Within the DAP, the user may view a list
of "My
Session" and/or a list of "Shared Sessions." By engaging with an individual
session (e.g., via
clicking on the session or touching it on a touchscreen), the user may see a
dynamic view of
performance metrics generated by, for example, the processor 120, a processor
of another
user's mobile device 108, and/or the processor 106B. Additionally, in some
embodiments, the
DAP may request and retrieve data from other apps that a user may use to
collect
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performance data, such as, for example, Strava, Google Sheets, Garmin, etc.,
and the DAP
may present that data integrated with data collected by the set of sensors 140
and/or may
analyze that data in conjunction with data collected by or generated based on
the data
collected by the the set of sensors 140. In some embodiments, the user may
create training
plans (e.g., for the user and/or for other users of the system 100) using the
DAP in a similar
way as described below with respect to FIG. 48. In some embodiments, the user
may
distribute the training plan(s) to other users of the system 100. In some
embodiments, if a
second user is on the first user's automatic sharing list, a training plan
shared by the first user
may be stored directly in the second user's training plan list without needing
acceptance by
the second user. In some embodiments, if a second user is on the first user's
automatic
sharing list, a training plan shared by the first user will need to be
accepted by the second
user via an interaction with the DAP (e.g., via the mobile device) for the
training plan to be
stored in the second user's training plan list.
1621 In some embodiments, segments of a rowing session may be
detected and
created by the DAP. In some embodiments, the DAP may automatically detect
segments of
rowing and rest based on the data collected by the sensors 140 (e.g., based on
data collected
by one or more oarlock sensors, seat sensors, footplate sensors, boat
acceleration sensors,
and/or boat speed sensors). In some embodiments, data collected by the sensors
140 and
associated with a rowing session may be further segmented based on time,
distance, stroke-
rate range, or power range. In some embodiments, the DAP allows for manual
segments to be
created by a user by dragging a line across an area or region of interest. In
some
embodiments, the DAP allows for fine adjustments to the start and end
parameters to be made
to identify the segment of interest (e.g., after identifying the segment of
interest coarsely by
drawing the line). In some embodiments, basic segment metrics may be
calculated as
segments are created. Segments may be analyzed by visualizing segment metrics
(e.g., speed,
stroke-rate, distance per stroke, average force measured by a sensor or a set
of sensors,
average check) numerically or graphically. In some embodiments, multiple
segments may be
selected. In some embodiments, a first segment may be superimposed over a
second segment
such that metrics of each segment may be visually compared. In some
embodiments, various
metrics may be turned on and off to allow comparison and further analysis of
effects and
changes related to particular metrics. In some embodiments, the DAP may allow
segments
with different starting times to be compared. In some embodiments, a subset of
the data
available (e.g., displayed) in the DAP may be included in a "Memory" display
on the mobile
device 102 (see, e.g., FIG. 50). In some embodiments, a live version of the
display showing
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or based on the DAP may viewed for real-time visualization of performance
metrics during a
rowing session (e.g., by one or more of the rowers, the coxswain, the coach,
and/or any other
interested party granted access).
1631 As described above, the system 100 may include any
suitable number of node
assemblies 104, wireless devices 102/108, and/or sensors 140. Additionally,
any suitable
number of node assemblies 104, wireless devices 102/108, and/or sensors 140
may be
coupled to (e.g., mounted on) the boat 180. For example, FIG. 41 is a
schematic illustration
of a boat 2880 intended to be rowed by a single rower using two oars. The boat
2880 can
have, for example, a length X. The length X can be, for example, 23-30 feet.
As shown, a
single wireless device 2802 is operatively coupled (e.g., wirelessly) to two
oarlock sensors
2852. The wireless device 2802 can be disposed a distance Y from each of the
sensors 2852.
The distance Y can be, for example, about 36 inches. The wireless device 2802
may be the
same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the wireless devices
described herein,
such as the mobile device 102. The oarlock sensors 2852 may be the same or
similar in
structure and/or function to any of the sensors described herein, such as any
of the oarlock
sensors described herein. Optionally, additional sensors 2860 may be included
that are the
same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the sensors described
herein, such as the
sensors 140 and/or 160. The additional sensors 2860 may be operably coupled to
the wireless
device 2802. FIG 42 is a schematic illustration of a boat 2880 intended to be
rowed by two
rowers, with each rower using two oars. The boat 2880 can have, for example, a
length X.
The length X can be, for example, 29-33 feet. As shown, a first wireless
device 2802 is
operatively coupled (e.g., wirelessly) to a first set of two oarlock sensors
2852 and a second
wireless device 2802 is operatively coupled to a second set of two oarlock
sensors 2852. Each
wireless device 2802 can be disposed a distance Y from its respective sensors
2852. The
distance Y can be, for example, about 36 inches. The distance between wireless
sensors 2852
can be a distance W, which can be, for example, about 50 inches. The wireless
devices 2802
may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the wireless
devices
described herein, such as the mobile device 102. The oarlock sensors 2852 may
be the same
or similar in structure and/or function to any of the sensors described
herein, such as any of
the oarlock sensors described herein. Optionally, additional sensors 2860 may
be included
that are the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the
sensors described herein,
such as the sensors 140 and/or 160. The additional sensors 2860 may be
operably coupled to
the first and/or the second wireless device 2802. FIG. 43 is a schematic
illustration of a boat
2880 intended to be rowed by eight rowers, with each rower using one oar. The
boat 2880
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can have, for example, a length X. The length X can be, for example, about 60
feet. As
shown, each of eight wireless devices 2802 is operatively coupled (e.g.,
wirelessly) to a
respective oarlock sensor 2852. Each wireless device 2802 can be disposed a
distance Y from
its respective sensor 2852. The distance Y can be, for example, about 36
inches. The
distance between wireless sensors 2852 on the same side of the boat can be a
distance W,
which can be, for example, about 100 inches. The distance between sensors 2852
on opposite
sides of the boat can be a distance Z, which can be, for example, 90 inches.
The wireless
devices 2802 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of
the wireless
devices described herein, such as the mobile device 102. The oarlock sensors
2852 may be
the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the sensors
described herein, such as
any of the oarlock sensors described herein. Optionally, additional sensors
2860 may be
included that are the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of
the sensors
described herein, such as the sensors 140 and/or 160. The additional sensors
2860 may be
operably coupled to one, some or all of the wireless devices 2802. FIG. 44 is
a schematic
illustration of a boat 2880 intended to be rowed by eight rowers, with each
rower using one
oar. The boat 2880 can have, for example, a length X. The length X can be, for
example,
about 60 feet. As shown, a single wireless device 2802 is operatively coupled
(e.g.,
wirelessly) to each of eight oarlock sensors 2852. Each wireless device 2802
can be disposed
a distance Y from its respective sensor 2852. The distance Y can be, for
example, about 36
inches. The distance between sensors 2852 on the same side of the boat can be
a distance W,
which can be, for example, about 100 inches. The distance between sensors 2852
on opposite
sides of the boat can be a distance Z, which can be, for example, 90 inches.
The wireless
device 2802 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of
the wireless
devices described herein, such as the mobile device 102. The oarlock sensors
2852 may be
the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the sensors
described herein, such as
any of the oarlock sensors described herein. Optionally, additional sensors
2860 may be
included that are the same or similar in structure and/or function to any of
the sensors
described herein, such as the sensors 140 and/or 160. The additional sensors
2860 may be
operably coupled to the wireless device 2802.
1641
In some embodiments, the mobile device 102 may be controlled using voice
commands. In some embodiments, the user may provide voice commands or select a
button
on the mobile device 102 (e.g., on the display 130) to mark particular
segments of interest
during a rowing session (e.g., marking start and stop of rowing segments
compared to
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breaks). Such markers may be stored by the mobile device 102 and by the
command center
106 as part of the session data and may be used to assist with analysis of the
rowing session.
1651 In some embodiments, when a user is finished with a
rowing session, the user
may indicate to the mobile device 102 that the session is complete (e.g.,
pressing a button on
the display 130). In some embodiments, if the mobile device 102, in
combination with one or
more sensors coupled thereto, does not detect rowing activity for a
predetermined length of
time, the mobile device 102 may cease recording the sensor data transmitted to
the mobile
device 102 from the one or more sensors and/or may display a prompt to the
user asking the
user whether to continue or end the rowing session. In some embodiments, the
sensor data
collected during the rowing session is automatically saved and may be assigned
a name, date,
and/or time associated with the rowing session.
1661 In some embodiments, the system 100 may include a quick
release mount
configured to be mounted to a portion of the boat 180, such as a foot plate.
The quick release
mount may include a portion configured to engage with the mobile device 102
such that the
mobile device 102 may be securely and releasably coupled to the mount via a
quick-release
mounting feature, such as a latch, lever, slot, or any other suitable feature.
In some
embodiments, the system 100 may include a quick release mount for each mobile
device 102
intended to be mounted to the boat 180 (e.g., one for each rower and one for a
coxswain, if
any).
1671 In some embodiments, for example, the mobile device 102
may receive sensor
data streams from sensors external to the mobile device 102 (e.g., oarlock
sensors of the set
of sensors 140) and from internal sensors of the mobile device 102 (e.g., an
accelerometer,
GPS). Raw data collected by and/or received from the sensors may be saved on
the memory
110 of the mobile device 102 and may be provided to a local analytics engine
(e.g., the
processor 120) of the mobile device 102. The analytics engine may calculate
real-time
metrics and the metrics may be displayed to the user of the mobile device 102
(e.g., the
rower) using the display 130. In some embodiments, both raw and real-time
calculated
metrics may be streamed through a web-socket to the cloud (e.g., a cloud
server such as the
command center 106). An analytics engine in the cloud (e.g., the processor
106B and/or the
software app 106D) may instruct a display (e.g., via a browser or an app
running on a
computing device) to display the metrics calculated by the mobile device 102
and/or may
perform calculations based on the raw and/or metrics calculated by the mobile
device 102 for
off-water viewing and analysis.
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1681 FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method 200 for optimizing
performance. The
method 200 may be a method of operation of any of the systems described
herein, such as the
system 100. In some embodiments, the method 200 may be a method of operation
of any of
the processors described herein, such as the processor 120. The method 200
includes, at 202,
receiving, from a set of rower sensors associated with a rower, a set of rower
performance
data. At 204, a set of boat performance data and a data associated with at
least one
environmental condition is received from a set of boat sensors associated with
a boat. At 206,
normalized performance data of at least one of the set of rower performance
data and the set
of boat performance data is generated based in part on the data associated
with the at least
one environmental condition. At 208, the normalized performance data is
displayed.
1691 In some embodiments, the normalized performance data or
rower performance
data associated with optimized performance data may be displayed on a display
viewable by
the rower during a rowing movement of the rower. In some embodiments, the
normalized
performance data or rower performance data associated with optimized
performance data
may be displayed on a display viewable by a coach during a rowing movement of
the rower.
1701 In some embodiments, the set of rower sensors may include
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. In some
embodiments,
the set of rower sensors includes 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. In some embodiments, the set of rower sensors includes a seat sensor
coupled to a seat
of the boat and configured to measure acceleration of the seat as the seat
translates along a
track during the rowing movement of the rower. In some embodiments, the set or
rower
sensors includes a seat sensor coupled to a seat of the boat and configured to
record (e.g.,
measure) acceleration, distance traveled, and or a seat position of the seat
during a rowing
session (e.g., as the seat translated along a track during the rowing movement
of the rower).
In some embodiments, the set of rower sensors includes physiological sensors
associated with
an individual rower and configured to measure physiological data, such as
heart rate of the
rower.
1711 In some embodiments, the at least one environmental
condition includes a
wind speed and a wind direction. Alternatively or additionally, in some
embodiments, the at
least one environmental condition includes a water speed, a water temperature
(e.g., in
Celsius and/or Fahrenheit), and/or an air temperature (e.g., in Celsius and/or
Fahrenheit). In
some embodiments, the set of boat sensors includes: a hull sensor coupled to
the boat and
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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.
In some embodiments, the global positioning system and/or the inertial
measurement
assembly may be included in a mobile device configured to receive performance
data from
one or more boat sensors external to the mobile device (e.g. an oarlock
sensor) and/or one or
more rower sensors external to the mobile device. In some embodiments, the
mobile device is
configured to generate the normalized performance data using the processor of
the mobile
device. In some embodiments, the boat performance data includes at least one
of a location, a
speed, a roll, pitch, yaw, acceleration, and a heading of the boat.
1721 In some embodiments, each sensor of the set of sensors is
configured for
wireless communication with the processor. In some embodiments, the set of
rower
performance data and the set of boat performance data are received wirelessly
by a processor
coupled to the boat via at least one wireless communication router coupled to
the boat. In
some embodiments, the set of rower performance data and the set of boat
performance data
may be received from the sensors by a processor (e.g., a processor of a mobile
device coupled
to the boat) via a Bluetooth low energy wireless network. The mobile device
may then
communicate the performance data and/or normalized performance data to a
command center
(e.g., a cloud-based server) such as the command center 106 via, for example,
WIFI, 5G, or
LTE. In some embodiments, the mobile device may communicate the performance
data
and/or normalized performance data to other mobile devices directly using, for
example,
Bluetooth low energy communication.
1731 In some embodiments, the normalized performance data
includes a normalized
speed of the boat and is derived from 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. In some embodiments,
speed of the
boat may be calculated based on data collected by a global positioning system
(GPS) (e.g., a
GPS on-board the mobile device). The distance traveled by the mobile device
mounted on the
boat and elapsed time may be used to calculate a "current" speed of the boat
over an
immediately preceding time period (e.g., the previous 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds)
and an average
speed of the boat taken over a larger time interval (e.g., from beginning to
end of a rowing
session or over a period of 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minutes, or
any other
suitable time period).
1741 In some embodiments, a first set of information
associated with achieving a
rowing performance goal may be provided via the display based on the set of
rower
performance data and the boat performance data. A second set of rower
performance data and
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a second set of boat performance data from the set of rower sensors and the
set of boat
sensors, respectively, may be received. It may be determined whether or not
the first set of
information was effective in achieving the rowing performance goal based on
the second set
of rower performance data and the second set of boat performance data. A
second set of
information associated with achieving the rowing performance goal may be
provided via the
display based on the determination of whether or not the first set of
information provided was
effective.
1751 In some embodiments, the systems and/or methods described
herein may be
adapted for use in a different athletic context than rowing. For example, the
systems and/or
methods described herein may be adapted for any sport requiring coordination
amongst a
group of athletes. FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method 300 for optimizing
performance. The
method 300 includes, at 302, receiving a set of rower performance data
associated with each
unique individual from a plurality of unique individuals. At 304, a set of one
environmental
condition data associated with at least one environmental condition is
received. At 306,
normalized performance data of the set of performance data is generated based
in part on the
environmental condition data and in part on the performance data associated
with each
unique individual from the plurality of unique individuals.
1761 In some embodiments, the performance data associated with
each unique
individual from the plurality of unique individuals includes physiological
data associated
with at least a first individual and a second individual of the plurality of
unique individuals.
In some embodiments, the normalized performance data may be inputted into a
machine
learning model. In some embodiments, a change in a performance parameter of a
unique
individual from the plurality of unique individuals associated with an
improvement in
normalized performance data may be identified based at least in part on the
normalized
performance data.
1771 FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a system 400 for
optimizing performance.
The system 400 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any
of the systems
described herein, such as the system 100 described above. The system 400
includes a
memory 410 and a processor 420 operatively coupled to the memory 410. The
processor 420
includes a data concentrator 422 and an analytics engine 424. The memory 410
is configured
to store data in a database.
1781 As shown in FIG. 4, the system 400 includes an oarlock
sensor 452, a foot
sensor 454, and a seat sensor 456 per rower. The system 400 also includes one
or more hull
sensors 462 and a wind sensor 464 per boat.
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1791 The oarlock sensor 452 may measure an angle of movement
and associated
force of an oar against an oarlock by a rower during a rowing movement (e.g.,
a stroke) of an
associated rower. The foot sensor 454 may measure a force applied by one or
both feet of
each rower on a surface (e.g., a foot plate also referred to as a foot
stretcher or an inner
bottom surface of a shoe coupled to the foot plate) during a rowing movement
(e.g., a stroke)
of an associated rower. The seat sensor 456 may measure an acceleration of a
seat on which
the rower is seated (e.g., along one or more rails) during a rowing movement
(e.g., a stroke)
of an associated rower (e.g., under the power of the rower).
1801 The one or more hull sensors 462 may measure data
associated with
characteristics and movement of the boat. For example, the one or more hull
sensors 462 may
measure a change in a GPS position of the boat, a heading of the boat, a speed
of the boat, a
roll, pitch, and/or yaw of the boat, and/or an acceleration of the boat. The
wind sensor 464
may measure characteristics associated with wind during operation of the boat
(e.g., in
water). For example, the wind sensor 464 may measure a wind speed and wind
angle during
operation of the boat (e.g., due to rowing movements in water). In some
embodiments, the
wind sensor 464 or another sensor may operate as an environmental sensor of
other
environmental data. For example, in addition to wind characteristics, the wind
sensor 464
may also measure ambient air temperature and/or water temperature.
1811 The system 400 includes a set of displays 430 to provide
performance data
feedback. The set of displays 430 include a first display 432 (e.g., a coach's
display or
terminal), a second display 434 (e.g., a coxswain's display), and a set of
rower displays 436.
In some embodiments, the set of rower displays 436 includes one display per
rower such that
each rower may see individualized feedback and/or group feedback. The oarlock
sensor 452,
the foot sensor 454, the seat sensor 456, the hull sensor 462, and the wind
sensor 464 may be
communicatively coupled to the first display 432, the second display 434, the
set of rower
displays 436, the data concentrator 422, and/or the analytics engine 424 via a
wireless
network 470.
[82] Each sensor of the oarlock sensor(s) 452, the foot
sensor(s) 454, the seat
sensor(s) 456, the hull sensor 462, and the wind sensor 464 may include a base
unit including
a communication assembly, a power storage device (also referred to as a power
storage
component), and a timing component. The communication assembly may be, for
example, a
wireless communication assembly for providing sensed data to the processor 420
and/or the
one or more displays 430 via any suitable wireless communication method (e.g.,
via WIFI
and Bluetooth ). The power storage device may include any suitable power
storage device
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for providing operational power to the sensor components, such as, for
example, a battery
(e.g., a 1200 mAh lithium polymer battery). In some embodiments, the power
storage device
may have a battery life of greater than one month. In some embodiments, the
sensors of the
set of sensors 440 may be configured to go into a low-power sleep mode when
not in use.
The timing component may be used to synchronize the timing of data collection
across the
various sensors. The timing component may be, for example, a real time clock.
1831 Furthermore, each sensor of the oarlock sensor(s) 452,
the foot sensor(s) 454,
the seat sensor(s) 456, the hull sensor 462, and the wind sensor 464 may
include one or more
enclosures within which one or more of the remaining components of each sensor
may be
housed (e.g., the communication assembly, the power storage device, and the
timing
component). The enclosure(s) may be watertight such that an interior of each
enclosure is
fluidically isolated from an exterior of each enclosure, preventing splashed
water from
reaching an interior of each enclosure. Each sensor may include an on/off
button or switch
and status lights (e.g., disposed in openings defined by the enclosure(s)).
Thus, engagement
with the on/off button or switch of a sensor may activate and deactivate the
sensor such that
power from the power storage device may be conserved when the sensor is not in
use. The
status lights may indicate a status of the sensor (e.g., on, off, low power,
etc.).
1841 In some embodiments, the display 436 and/or the display
434 may be formed
as or included in a mobile device (e.g., an Android mobile phone) having a
processor and
may be paired to one or more of the sensors to receive data collected by the
one or more
sensors and perform real-time analysis of the received data. The display 436
and/or the
display 434 may function as real-time displays for rowers and/or coxswains,
respectively.
The display 436 and/or the display 434 may function as data concentrators and
first-line
analytics engines for the paired sensors. The display 436 and/or the display
434 may also
transfer data to a command center (e.g., the cloud) for further analytics and
data storage that
may then be accessed by athletes (e.g., rowers) and coaches. In some
embodiments, the
system 400 may include one mobile device including a display 436 per rower and
one mobile
device including a display 434 for a boat's coxswain. In some embodiments, the
system 400
may include fewer mobile devices including the display 434 in the boat than
rowers (e.g.,
only one display for the entire boat) that may be paired to sensors associated
with more than
one rower (e.g., may be paired with multiple oarlocks, foot sensors, or seat
sensors).
1851 In some embodiments, the memory 410 and the processor 420
including the
data concentrator 422 and the analytics engine 424 may all be cloud-based. In
some
embodiments, the coaches terminal 432 may be configured for wireless
communication with
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the cloud such that the terminal 423 may receive data and analytics from the
cloud via, for
example, WIFI, 5G, or LTE. In some embodiments, a coach's launch may include a
hotspot
to allow for easy access to the cloud by the terminal 432. The terminal 432
may also be used
to communicate with the coxswain's display 434 and/or the rower's feedback
display 436
such that a coach may provide remote coaching (e.g., in real time). In some
embodiments, the
wireless network 470 may be a local BLE wireless network.
[86] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a performance optimization system 500
coupled to a boat 580. The performance optimization system 500 may be the same
or similar
in structure and/or function to any of the performance optimization systems
described herein.
For example, the system 500 includes a processor 520 and routers 526 mounted
to the boat
580. Additionally, the system 500 includes eight oarlock assemblies 552 (e.g.,
one oarlock
assembly 552 associated with each oar and rower), eight foot sensors 554, and
eight seat
sensors 556. Furthermore, the system 500 includes a hull sensor 562 including
a GPS and
inertial measurement assembly and a wind sensor 564. As shown, the hull sensor
562 may be
disposed on or near the bow of the boat, and the wind sensor 564 may be
disposed between
the hull sensor 562 and the rower seats. In some embodiments, rather than
including the hull
sensor 562, the processor 520 may be included in a mobile device including an
internal GPS
and/or IMU. In some embodiments, the processor 520 may be the same or similar
in structure
and/or function to any of the mobile devices described herein, such as mobile
device 102. In
such cases, the system 500 may not include routers 526. In some cases, the
system 500 may
include more than one mobile device configured to collect data from the
sensors. For
example, each mobile device may be paired with a subset of the sensors, which
may or may
not overlap with a subset of sensors that another mobile device is paired
with.
[87] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a system 600 for optimizing
performance.
The system 600 includes a set of sensors 640 and a processor 620 including a
data aggregator
622 and an analytics engine 624. The data aggregator 622 may include or be
coupled to a
database 610.
[88] Each sensor of the set of sensors 640 includes a base unit including a
communication assembly (e.g., a WIFI-based transmitter), a power storage
device (not
shown), and a timing component (e.g., a real time clock). Each sensor of the
set of sensors
640 may also include a sensing subassembly and a sensor interface between the
base unit and
the sensing subassembly.
[89] The data aggregator 622 may include a network time protocol (NTP)
module,
a websocket module, and a data logger. The timing component of the sensor of
the set of
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sensors 640 is configured to request time from the NTP module and receive a
time update
such that the sensor may synchronize itself with the data aggregator 622. The
communication
assembly of each sensor is configured to send data to and receive commands
from the
websocket module. The data received by the websocket module from the sensor
may be
provided to the database 610 and the analytics engine via the data logger. In
some
embodiments, the data logger may provide the data to the analytics engine 624
in real time.
The database 610 may also send queries to the analytics engine 624 to request
normalized
performance data from the analytics engine 624.
1901 FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a system 700 for
optimizing performance.
The system 700 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any
of the systems
described herein. The system 700 includes a set of feedback systems 765, a set
of
users/entities 766, a set of equipment 767, and a set of sensors 740. The
sensors 740 are
configured to make direct measurements 741 based on a characteristic of one or
more
equipment of the set of equipment 767 (e.g., a boat and/or oar(s)), the
environment, and/or
one or more user/entity of the set of user/entity 766 (e.g., an athlete such
as a rower R or a
coxswain X).
1911 The set of feedback systems 765 may include an athlete
feedback system 768,
a coxswain feedback system 769, and/or a central data portal 781 (each of
which may be the
same or similar in structure and/or function to or include any of the feedback
systems,
devices, processors and/or memories described herein). The users/entities 766
may include
rowers R, coxswains X, and/or coaches C. The equipment 767 may include an oar,
a rowing
shell, an ergometer, weights, and/or a lactate test associated with the
rower(s). The equipment
may also include a cox box associated with the coxswain. A subset of the
sensors 740 may be
configured to measure independent variables (i.e., variables changeable by the
athlete). For
example, the sensors 740 may include a wearable motion sensor configured to
measure body
position, an oarlock sensor configured to measure oar force and/or oar angle
of an oar, a foot
sensor configured to measure foot force, and/or a seat sensor configured to
measure seat
position and/or seat weight. A subset of the sensors 740 may be configured to
measure
dependent variables (i.e., variables that result from changes the athlete
makes). For example,
the sensors may include a GPS/IMU sensor array coupled to the rowing shell
configured to
measure velocity, roll, and drag on the hull. A subset of the sensors 740 may
be configured to
measure constants and/or constraints (e.g., environmental variables). For
example, an
impeller may be used to measure current, an ultrasonic wind sensor may be used
to measure
wind, and a water thermometer may be used to measure water temperature. An
ergometer
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may be used to measure an athletes aerobic threshold, lactic tolerance, and
maximum power.
Additionally, the users (e.g., athletes) may provide their height, weight, and
body
measurements.
1921 The data collected by the sensors of the system 700 may
be stored in a
memory and used as inputs 785 and for data analysis 787 (e.g., in a machine
learning model
787). The system 700 may perform data analysis 783 on the data and, using
analysis using
machine learning, physics, and/or statistics, may implement data feature
correlation model(s),
anomaly detection, adjusted speed model(s), and/or feedback action model(s)
(which may be
based on the outputs of one or more of the other models), and may produce a
variety of
outputs 784, such as one or more suggested feedback actions 789 (e.g., a
feedback action
selected from a feedback action library 787A based on the inputs 785 using the
data analysis
783), and one or more performance characteristics 790 (e.g., normalized
performance
characteristics) such as normalized boat speed, velocity loss, catch timing
distribution, release
timing distribution, power, effective length, length, and/or roll. The outputs
784 may be
provided to the feedback systems 765 as appropriate such that changes may be
made by one
or more users/entities of the set of users/entities 766 (e.g., an athlete
and/or coach) to improve
performance (e.g., using the suggested feedback action 789) and/or such that
the performance
may be compared to other athlete performances (e.g., a performance that may
have taken
place under different environmental conditions, using different equipment,
and/or by a
different athlete or set of athletes) based, for example, on the one or more
performance
characteristics 790. The process may then be continued throughout an athletic
performance or
series of athletic performances such that, for example, the one or more
users/entities of the set
of users/entities 766 may make adjustments (e.g., periodically or
continuously) based on the
outputs 784 with the aim of improving performance.
1931 FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a system 800 for
optimizing performance.
The system 800 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to any
of the system
described herein. The system 800 includes a first boat 880 and a second boat
882. The first
boat 880 may be, for example, a boat propelled under force of athletes (e.g.,
a shell). The
second boat 882 may be a boat used by a coach of the athletes (e.g., a motor
boat) (also
referred to as a launch). The system 800 includes a coxswain display 834 and
eight rower
displays 836 such that each of the coxswain and each rower are associated with
a display that
is visible by the respective coxswain or rower to provide real-time feedback
on individual
rowers and/or the collective group of rowers. The second boat 882 may include
a coach
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display 832 for providing real-time feedback on individual rowers and/or the
collective group
of rowers.
1941 FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of an oarlock assembly
952 (also referred to
as an oarlock sensor or an oarlock). The oarlock assembly may be the same or
similar in
structure and/or function to any of the oarlock assemblies or sensors
described herein. The
oarlock assembly 952 defines a pin receptacle 992 shaped and sized to receive
an oarlock pin
of a boat. The oarlock assembly 952 includes a brace housing 991, a face plate
994, a first
force transducer 995, a second force transducer 996, and an electronics
assembly 997. The
brace housing 991 defines an opening 993 shaped and sized to receive an oar
collar of an oar.
The face plate 994 is disposed within the opening 993 defined by the brace
housing 991 and
coupled to a surface of the brace housing. The first force transducer 995 is
disposed in a first
location between the face plate 994 and the surface of the brace housing, and
the second force
transducer 996 is disposed in a second location between the face plate 994 and
the surface of
the brace housing 991. In some implementations, the face plate 994 is coupled
to the brace
housing 991 via the first force transducer 995 and the second force transducer
996. In some
embodiments, the face plate 994 is disposed in a plane parallel to a central
axis of the pin
receptacle.
1951 The electronics assembly 997 is coupled to the first
force transducer 995 and
the second force transducer 996. The electronics assembly 997 includes a
processor
configured to determine a force of the oar collar against the face plate 994
during a rowing
motion of the oar. The electronics assembly 997 includes an inertial
measurement assembly
such that an angle of the oar collar relative to the face plate 994 may be
determined based on
acceleration data sensed by the inertial measurement assembly during the
rowing motion of
the oar. In some embodiments, the inertial measurement assembly includes a
gyroscope and
an accelerometer. In some embodiments, the electronics assembly 997 includes a
wireless
communication subassembly (e.g., including a transmitter or transceiver)
configured to
communicate data associated with the force of the oar collar against the face
plate 994 and
data sensed by the inertial measurement assembly via a wireless network.
1961 FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of an oarlock
assembly 1052. The oarlock
1052 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to the oarlock
assembly 952
described above with respect to FIG. 9. For example, the oarlock assembly 1052
defines a pin
receptacle 1092 shaped and sized to receive an oarlock pin (also referred to
as a rigger pin)
1098 of a boat. The oarlock assembly 1052 includes a brace housing 1091, a
face plate 1094,
a first force transducer 1095, a second force transducer 1096, and an
electronics assembly
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1097. The brace housing 1091 defines an opening 1093 shaped and sized to
receive an oar
collar of an oar. The face plate 1094 is disposed within the opening 1093
defined by the brace
housing 1091 and coupled to a surface of the brace housing. The first force
transducer 1095 is
disposed in a first location between the face plate 1094 and the surface of
the brace housing,
and the second force transducer 1096 is disposed in a second location between
the face plate
1094 and the surface of the brace housing 1091. In some implementations, the
face plate
1094 is coupled to the brace housing 1091 via the first force transducer 1095
and the second
force transducer 1096. The electronics assembly 1097 is coupled to the first
force transducer
1095 and the second force transducer 1096. As shown, the face plate 1094 may
be disposed
in a plane parallel to a central axis A of the pin receptacle.
1971 The electronics assembly 1097 includes a calibration
board 1097A, a power
storage device 1097B (e.g., a battery), an inertial measurement assembly (IMU)
1097C (e.g.,
a BNO 8085), and a processor 1097D (e.g., a microCPU). The processor 1097D is
configured
to determine a force (e.g., an orthogonal force relative to a pin in the pin
receptacle 1092) of
the oar collar against the face plate 1094 during a rowing motion of the oar.
The inertial
measurement assembly 1097C includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer such that
the
inertial measurement assembly 1097C may sense acceleration of the oar collar
relative to the
face plate 1094 during the rowing motion of the oar. The processor 1097D
determines an
angle of the oar collar relative to the face plate 1094 based on the
acceleration data sensed
and provided by the inertial measurement assembly 1097C The electronics
assembly 1097
also includes an on/off button or switch 1097E (e.g., disposed within and/or
protruding from
an enclosure of the electronics assembly 1097) configured such that engagement
with the
on/off button or switch 1097E may activate and deactivate the electronics
assembly 1097
such that power from the power storage device 1097B may be conserved when the
electronics
assembly 1097 is not in use.
1981 In some embodiments, the electronics assembly 1097
includes a wireless
communication subassembly configured to communicate data associated with the
force of the
oar collar against the face plate 1094 and data sensed by the inertial
measurement assembly
1097C via a wireless network. In some embodiments, the oarlock assembly 1052
may be
assembled by coupling the face plate 1094 and the electronics assembly 1097
(e.g., including
or disposed within an enclosure) to a pre-assembled and/or off-the-shelf
oarlock, such as a
Concept2 Sweep Oarlock.
1991 The first force transducer 1095 and the second force
transducer 1096 may
transmit analog voltages to the calibration board 1097A and the processor
1097D.
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Additionally, the processor 1097D may read data from the gyroscope and
accelerometer of
the IMU 1097C. The processor 1097D may transmit the data to a central
processor mounted
to the boat and/or a processor external to the boat using, for example, a
wireless transmitter or
transceiver. The processor 1097D and/or the central processor may associate
the angle data to
angle data collected by an IMU of a hull to which the oarlock assembly 1052 is
coupled (e.g.,
via the oarlock pin 1092) to compute an angle an oar collar disposed within
the opening 1093
strikes the face plate 1094 relative to a reference frame of the rowing shell.
For example,
orientation and acceleration data from the gyroscope and accelerometer of an
IMU of the hull
to which the oarlock assembly 1052 is coupled may be subtracted from the data
from the
gyroscope and accelerometer, respectively, of the IMU 1097C to calculate the
angle of
movement of the oar collar relative to the oarlock assembly 1052.
[100] FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a foot sensor assembly 1154.
The foot
sensor assembly 1154 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function
to any of the
foot sensor assemblies described herein. For example, the foot sensor assembly
1154 may
include a first force sensor 1172 (e.g., a left foot sensor) and a right force
sensor 1174 (e.g., a
right foot sensor). The first force sensor 1171 and the right force sensor
1172 are operatively
coupled (e.g., via wiring) to a sensor calibration circuit 1173 of an
input/output (I/O) board
1174. The sensor calibration circuit 1173 is operatively coupled to a
processor 1175 (e.g., a
microCPU). A real time clock 1176 is also coupled to the processor 1175. The
processor
1175, the real time clock 1176, and the I/0 board 1174 are enclosed within a
common
enclosure 1177.
[101] The foot sensor assembly 1154 measures force exerted upon a boat
(e.g., on a
foot plate and/or athlete shoes coupled to the boat) by the athlete via the
feet of the athlete. In
some embodiments, the first force sensor 1172 may be inserted into a left shoe
of a pair of
athlete shoes coupled to the boat (e.g., disposed on the left shoe's insole)
and the right force
sensor 1172 may be inserted into a right shoe of a pair of athlete shoes
coupled to the boat
(e.g., disposed on the right shoe's insole). The foot sensor assembly 1154 may
transmit
analog voltages to the sensor calibration circuit 1173 of the I/O board 1174.
The enclosure
1177 may be mounted to the boat at any suitable location (e.g., at a location
along the
gunwale of the boat near the associated foot plate).
[102] FIGS. 12 and 13 are a top view of a foot sensor assembly 1254 and a
perspective view of the foot sensor assembly 1254 coupled to a boat 1280,
respectively. The
foot sensor assembly 1254 may be the same or similar in structure and/or
function to any of
the foot sensor assemblies described herein, such as the foot sensor assembly
1154 described
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above with respect to FIG. 11. For example, the foot sensor assembly 1254 may
include a
first force sensor 1271 (e.g., a left foot sensor) and a right force sensor
1272 (e.g., a right foot
sensor). The foot sensor assembly 1254 may also include a processor, real time
clock, and I/O
board (not shown) including a sensor calibration circuit (not shown) enclosed
within an
enclosure 1277.
11031 As shown in FIG. 13, the first force sensor 1271 may be
disposed on an inner
bottom surface of a left shoe (e.g., on an upper or lower surface of an insole
of the left shoe)
and the second force sensor 1272 may be disposed on an inner bottom surface of
a right shoe
(e.g., on an upper or lower surface of an insole of the right shoe). As shown
in FIG. 13, in
some implementations, portions of the foot sensor assembly 1254 may be housed
in separate
enclosures. For example, the sensor calibration circuit (and, thus, the I/0
board) may be
housed in one or more enclosures portions distinct from an enclosure housing,
for example,
the processor and real time clock. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a portion
of the sensor
calibration circuit associated with the first force sensor 1271 may be
disposed in a first
enclosure portion 1277A and a portion of the sensor calibration circuit
associated with the
second force sensor 1272 may be disposed in a second enclosure portion 1277B.
The first and
second enclosures 1277A, B of the sensor calibration circuit may be coupled,
for example, to
a portion of the boat 1280 near or on a foot plate 1288 associated with the
first force sensor
1271 and the second force sensor 1272 (e.g., in a stacked arrangement) and the
enclosure
1277C housing the processor and real time clock to which the sensor
calibration circuit is
operatively coupled may be coupled to a gunwale or interior surface of a hull
of the boat
1280 near the associated foot plate.
11041 FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a seat sensor
assembly 1456. The seat
sensor assembly 1456 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function
to any of the
seat sensor assemblies described herein. The seat sensor assembly 1456
includes an I/O board
1474 including an inertial measurement unit 1473. The I/O board 1474 is
operably coupled to
a processor 1475 (e.g., a microCPU). The seat sensor assembly 1456 also
includes a real time
clock 1476 operably coupled to the processor 1475. Each of the I/0 board 1474,
the
processor 1475, and the real time clock 1476 may be disposed within an
enclosure 1477. The
enclosure 1477 may be mounted to any suitable location on a sliding seat
associated with an
athlete. For example, the enclosure 1477 may be shaped and sized to fit in
clearance space
underneath a sliding seat of an athlete and to be coupled to an underside of
the sliding seat.
The seat sensor assembly 1456 measures acceleration of the sliding seat (e.g.,
along one or
more rails) of a boat. The seat sensor assembly 1456 may include a wireless
communication
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apparatus or assembly (e.g., within or coupled to the processor 1475 and/or
the I/O Board
1174) such that the seat sensor assembly 1456 may transmit acceleration data
wirelessly.
11051 FIGS. 15 and 16 are various bottom views of a seat sensor
assembly 1546
coupled to a seat 1586 of a boat 1580. The seat sensor assembly 1546 may be
the same or
similar in structure and/or function to any of the seat sensor assemblies
described herein, such
as the seat sensor assembly 1456 described with respect to FIG. 14. For
example, the seat
sensor assembly 1546 includes an I/O board, a processor including an inertial
measurement
unit, and a real time clock (not shown) disposed within an enclosure 1577.
11061 As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the seat sensor assembly
1546 may be coupled
to an underside of the seat 1586 via any suitable coupling mechanism (e.g.,
adhesive, tape,
and/or screws) such that, during a rowing stroke in which an athlete moves the
seat (e.g.,
under the power of the athlete's legs pushing against a foot plate), the seat
sensor assembly
1546 does not move relative to the seat and moves relative to the boat 1580
and the foot
plate. Thus, during the rowing stroke, the inertial measurement unit may
measure an
acceleration of the seat 1586.
11071 FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of a hull sensor
assembly 1662. The hull
sensor assembly 1662 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function
to any of the
hull sensor assemblies described herein. The hull sensor assembly 1662
includes an I/O board
1674, a processor 1675 (e.g., a microCPU), and a real time clock 1676. The I/O
board 1674
includes an inertial measurement unit 1673 and a GPS 1678. Each of the I/0
board 1674, the
processor 1675, and the real time clock 1676 may be disposed within an
enclosure 1677. The
inertial measurement unit 1673 may measure a roll, pitch, yaw, acceleration,
and/or heading
of a hull to which the hull sensor assembly 1662 is coupled. The GPS 1678 may
measure a
location, speed, and/or heading of the hull to which the hull sensor assembly
1662 is coupled.
11081 FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a hull sensor assembly
1762 coupled to a hull
of a boat 1780. The hull sensor assembly 1762 may be the same or similar in
structure and/or
function to any of the hull sensor assemblies described herein, such as the
hull sensor
assembly 1662 described above with respect to FIG. 17. As shown, the hull
sensor assembly
may be disposed on an upper surface of the bow of the boat (e.g., between the
bow ball and
the athlete closest to the bow of the boat).
11091 FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration of a wind sensor
assembly 1864. The wind
sensor assembly 1864 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function
to any of the
wind sensor assemblies described herein. The wind sensor assembly 1864
includes an I/0
board 1874, a processor 1875 (e.g., a microCPU), and a real time clock 1876.
The I/O board
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1874 includes an ultrasonic wind sensor 1879. Each of the I/O board 1874, the
processor
1875, and the real time clock 1876 may be disposed within an enclosure 1877.
The ultrasonic
wind sensor 1879 may measure wind speed and/or wind direction.
11101 FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a wind sensor assembly
1964. The wind
sensor assembly 1964 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function
to any of the
wind sensor assemblies described herein, such as the wind sensor assembly 1864
described
above with respect to FIG. 19. For example, the wind sensor assembly 1964
includes an I/O
board, a processor including an ultrasonic wind sensor 1979, and a real time
clock (not
shown) disposed within an enclosure 1977. As shown, the wind sensor assembly
1964 may
include suction cups 1999A configured to releasably affix the wind sensor
assembly 1964 to
a surface of a boat and an elongated member 1999B extending upward from the
suction cups
1999A. The ultrasonic wind sensor 1979 may be disposed on top of the elongated
member
1999B. The enclosure may be mounted to the elongated member 1999B and may
include a
USB connection for charging of a power storage device of the wind sensor
assembly 1964.
11111 FIG. 21 is a schematic illustration of an oarlock
assembly 2052 (also referred
to as an oarlock sensor or an oarlock). The oarlock assembly 2052 may be the
same or similar
in structure and/or function to any of the oarlock assemblies or sensors
described herein. For
example, the oarlock assembly 2052 is configured to measure an angle of
movement of an
oar and a force of the oar against the oarlock assembly during a rowing
movement of a rower.
The oarlock assembly 2052 includes an oarlock base assembly 2052A, an
electronics
assembly 2097, and a power storage assembly 2057. The oarlock base assembly
2052A
includes a brace housing 2091 and a tubular member 2058. The tubular member
2058 defines
a pin receptacle 2092 shaped and sized to receive an oarlock pin of a boat.
The tubular
member 2058 includes a strain gauge assembly 2058A and electrical contacts
2059. The
brace housing 2091 defines an opening 2093 shaped and sized to receive an oar
collar of an
oar and a pin cavity 2093B (also referred to as a strain gauge receptacle or a
tubular member
receptacle) shaped and sized to receive the tubular member 2058. The pin
cavity 2093B may
be substantially cylindrical and have a central axis disposed perpendicularly
relative to the
central axis of the opening 2093. The brace housing 2091 also includes an oar
contact surface
2091A arranged relative to and aligned with the strain gauge assembly 2058A
such that force
applied on the oar contact surface 2091A during a rowing movement of the oar
may be
measured by the strain gauge assembly 2058A of the tubular member 2058. For
example, a
portion of the tubular member 2058 (e.g., an extended diameter portion) may be
disposed in
contact with a portion of the brace housing 2091 opposite the oar contact
surface 2091A such
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that force on the oar contact surface 2091A is transferred to the portion of
the tubular member
2058 via the brace housing 2091, causing deformation of the tubular member
2058 that may
be measured using the strain gauge assembly 2058A. The tubular member 2058 may
include
or be coupled to bushings disposed on each end of the tubular member 2058. In
some
embodiments, the tubular member 2058 and the bushings may be shaped and sized
such that
the bushings support the tubular member 2058 within the pin cavity 2093B such
that the only
portion of the tubular member 2058 in contact with the brace housing 2091
(besides the
bushings) is the extended diameter portion of the tubular member 2058. In some
embodiments, the oar contact surface 2091A may be disposed in a plane parallel
to a central
axis of the pin receptacle 2092 and/or the central axis of the pin cavity
2093B. In some
embodiments, the oar contact surface 2091A may be disposed in a plane disposed
at an angle
relative to the central axis of the pin receptacle 2092 and/or the central
axis of the pin cavity
2093B. The angle may be, for example, about 2 degrees, about 3 degrees, about
4 degrees,
about 5 degrees, about 6 degrees, an angle between about 2 and 6 degrees, an
angle between
about 3 and 5 degrees, or an angle between about 3 and 4 degrees.
11121 In some embodiments, the tubular member 2058 and the pin
cavity 2093B
may be shaped and sized such that the tubular member 2058 may be received
within the pin
cavity 2093B in only one orientation or in only one of two orientations and
such that the
tubular member 2058 self-aligns with the pin cavity 2093 upon insertion into
the pin cavity
2093B. For example, in some embodiments, the cavity 2093B of the brace housing
may have
a non-circular cross-sectional shape and the tubular member 2058 may include a
central
portion having a non-circular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the non-
circular cross-
sectional shape of the cavity 2093B such that the tubular member 2058 can be
mated with an
interior surface of the brace housing 2091 defining the cavity 2093B. For
example, the
tubular member 2058 may have a cross-section (e.g., taken through a plane
perpendicular to a
central axis of the tubular member 2058) that has two opposing flat edges and
two opposing
curved edges. The pin cavity 2093B may have a corresponding cross-section with
a slightly
larger perimeter such that the tubular member 2058 may be inserted into the
pin cavity 2093B
in only two orientations. As referenced above, the tubular member 2058 may
also include an
extended diameter portion, which may be centered between ends of the tubular
member. The
extended diameter portion may have a cross-section with a continuous perimeter
except for a
portion within which electrical contacts associated with the strain gauge
assembly 2058A are
disposed, indicating the proper orientation of the tubular member 2058
relative to the brace
housing 2001 defining the pin cavity 2093B (which may define an opening
through which the
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electronics assembly 2097 may electrically contact the electrical contacts of
the tubular
member 2058).
11131 The electronics assembly 2097 includes a processor
configured to determine a
force of the oar collar against the oar contact surface 2091A during a rowing
motion of the
oar. In some embodiments, the electronics assembly 2097 may include an
inertial
measurement assembly such that an angle of the oar collar relative to the oar
contact surface
2091A may be determined based on acceleration data sensed by the inertial
measurement
assembly during the rowing motion of the oar. In some embodiments, the
inertial
measurement assembly includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer. In some
embodiments, as
described further below, the electronics assembly 2097 may include a magnetic
sensor in
combination with a gyroscope such that an angle of an oar or an oar collar
relative to the boat
may be determined based on a sensed relationship between a magnet in a fixed
location
relative to a pin disposed in the pin receptacle 2091 and the magnetic sensor.
In some
embodiments, the electronics assembly 2097 includes a wireless communication
subassembly
(e.g., including a transmitter or transceiver) configured to communicate data
associated with
the force of the oar collar against the oar contact surface 2091A and oar
angle data via a
wireless network (e.g., via Bluetooth communication).
11141 The electronics assembly 2097 includes an electrical
connection for
electrically coupling the electronics assembly 2097 to the strain gauge
assembly 2058A of the
tubular member 2058. In some embodiments, the electrical connection of the
electronics
assembly 2097 may include pogo pins configured to contact electrical contacts
of the tubular
member 2058 when the electronics assembly 2097 is coupled to the tubular
member 2058. In
some embodiments, the pogo pins may be spring-loaded such that the pogo pins
may be
compressed to a shorter length when coupling the electronics assembly 2097 to
the tubular
member 2058, and may expand under the force of the springs to contact the
electrical
contacts of the tubular member 2058 when the electronics assembly 2097 is
properly coupled
to the tubular member 2058.
11151 The electronics assembly 2097 includes an enclosure (also
referred to as a
housing) that may be watertight such that an interior of the enclosure is
fluidically isolated
from an exterior of the enclosure, preventing splashed water from reaching an
interior of the
enclosure. A power transfer interface of the electronics assembly 2097 may be
accessible
through the exterior of the enclosure (e.g., electrical contacts may be
disposed within
openings of the enclosure such that an interface between each electrical
contact and the
enclosure housing is sealed to prevent water from traveling to an interior of
the enclosure).
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Additionally, the electronics assembly 2097 may include any suitable buttons
(e.g., on/off
buttons), switches, or status lights accessible or visible through the
enclosure and sealed
relative to the enclosure to prevent water from traveling into the enclosure.
11161 The enclosure of the electronics assembly 2097 may
include any suitable
mounting component configured to engage with a mating mounting component
associated
with the tubular member 2058. The mounting component of the enclosure of the
electronics
assembly 2097 and the mating mounting component associated with the tubular
member
2058 may include, for example, one or more latches and engagement posts,
flexible arms
with retention elements and receiving indents, flanges, or grooves, straps,
buttons, and/or any
other suitable mating mounting components that allow the electronics assembly
2097 to be
reversibly coupled to the tubular member 2058 to measure resistance changes of
the strain
gauge assembly 2058A and, optionally, to sense presence or absence of a
magnetic field (e.g.,
of a body of magnet) as described in more detail below. In some embodiments,
the
electronics assembly 2097 may be mounted to the brace housing 2091 using any
of the
mating mounting components described above, and such a mount causes electrical
contacts of
the electronics assembly 2097 to operably couple to electrical contacts of the
tubular member
2058 disposed in the pin cavity 2093B of the brace housing 2091.
11171 The power storage assembly 2057 may include a power
storage component
and an enclosure. The power storage component may be any suitable power
storage
component, such as a rechargeable battery. The power storage assembly 2057 may
include a
power transfer inteiface including any suitable power transfer components
configured to
operably couple with a power transfer interface of the electronics assembly
2097 to provide
energy to the electronics assembly 2097 to operably power the electronics
assembly 2097.
For example, the power transfer interface may include electrical contacts
configured to mate
with electrical contacts of the electronics assembly 2097 when the power
storage assembly
2057 is mechanically coupled to the electronics assembly 2097. In some
embodiments, the
power transfer interface may include primary inductor coils and the
electronics assembly
2097 may include second coils such that, when the power storage assembly 2057
is coupled
to the electronics assembly 2097, the electronics assembly 2097 may be powered
and/or a
power storage component of the electronics assembly 2097 may be charged (i.e.,
a power
storage level of the power storage component may be increased) through
inductive charging.
11181 The enclosure (also referred to as a housing) of the
power storage assembly
2057 may be watertight such that an interior of the enclosure is fluidically
isolated from an
exterior of the enclosure, preventing splashed water from reaching an interior
of the
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enclosure. The power transfer interface may be accessible through the exterior
of the
enclosure (e.g., electrical contacts may be disposed within openings of the
enclosure such that
an interface between each electrical contact and the enclosure housing is
sealed to prevent
water from traveling to an interior of the enclosure). Additionally, the
enclosure may define
an opening through which the power storage component may be charged (e.g., via
AC power)
in which the interface of the enclosure and a charging port is sealed (e.g.,
watertight).
Additionally, the power storage assembly 2057 may include any suitable buttons
(e.g., on/off
buttons), switches, or status lights accessible or visible through the
enclosure and sealed
relative to the enclosure to prevent water from traveling into the enclosure.
11191
The enclosure of the power storage assembly 2057 may include any suitable
mounting component configured to engage with a mating mounting component of
the
enclosure of the electronics assembly 2097. The mounting component of the
enclosure of the
power storage assembly 2057 and the mating mounting component of the enclosure
of the
electronics assembly 2097 may include, for example, one or more latches and
engagement
posts, flexible arms with retention elements and receiving indents, flanges,
or grooves, straps,
buttons, and/or any other suitable mating mounting components that allow the
power storage
assembly 2057 to be reversibly coupled to the electronics assembly 2097 to
provide energy
(e.g., operation power) to the electronics assembly 2097. Thus, the power
storage assembly
2057 may be separated from the electronics assembly 2097 for charging without
needing to
remove the electronics assembly 2097 from the oarlock base assembly 2052A. In
some
embodiments, any of a set of power storage assemblies 2057 may be coupled to
the
electronics assembly 2097 to provide operation power to the electronics
assembly 2097
without requiring any specialized programming of the electronics assembly 2097
such that a
power storage assembly 2057 with a power storage component with a low power
storage
level may be replaced with a power storage component with a higher power
storage level.
11201
In some embodiments, rather than having a separate, modular power storage
assembly 2057, the power storage component of the power storage assembly 2057
may be
included in the electronics assembly 2097 and disposed within the enclosure of
the
electronics assembly 2097. In such embodiments, the electronics assembly 2097
may be
decoupled from the oarlock base assembly 2052A for charging (e.g., via being
plugged into
an AC power source) or may be charged while coupled to the oarlock base
assembly 2052A.
In some embodiments, as mentioned above, the electronics assembly 2097 may
include a
power storage device in addition to the power storage assembly 2057 including
a power
storage component, and the power storage assembly 2057 may be used to provide
charging
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power to the power storage component of the power storage assembly 2097. The
power
storage component of the power storage assembly 2097 may be any suitable power
storage
component, such as a rechargeable battery or a capacitor.
11211 As shown in FIG. 21, the oarlock assembly 2052 may also
optionally include a
magnetic alignment assembly 2047. The magnetic alignment assembly 2047 may
include a
magnet and a magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor may be included in, for
example, the
electronics assembly 2097. The magnetic sensor may include a magnetic switch.
In some
embodiments, the magnetic alignment assembly 2047 may include only a single
magnet. The
magnet may be formed such that it has a central opening shaped and sized to
receive an
oarlock pin of a boat. The magnet may include an extension portion extending
away from a
central axis of the central opening such that the magnet has a greater lateral
extent in one
direction relative to the central axis of the central opening than a lateral
extent of the magnet
in the opposite direction. Additionally, the magnet may define a through-hole
in the extension
portion that is disposed parallel to the central axis of the central opening.
The magnet may
also define a slot opposite of the through-hole relative to the central axis
of the central
opening. The slot may be defined such that the magnet defines a continuous
perimeter around
the central opening except for the location of the slot, which extends from
the central opening
to an outer surface of the magnet The magnet may be disposed below the tubular
member
2058 and separated from the tubular member by one or more spacers. The magnet
may be
secured relative to the pin via one or more spacers disposed above and below
the magnet. The
spacers immediately above and below the magnet may apply pressure to the
magnet to fix the
orientation of the magnet relative to the pin due to bolts on either side of
the pin applying a
compressive force on any spacers, the tubular member 2058 including the
bushings, and the
magnet disposed between the oppositely-disposed bolts.
11221 The through-hole in the magnet may be used as a magnetic
reference for the
gyroscope of the electronics assembly 2097. The magnetic sensor of the
electronics assembly
2097 may detect the through-hole in the magnet. For example, the magnetic
sensor may be
disposed such that, when the electronics assembly 2097 is mounted to the
oarlock base
assembly 2052A and the oarlock base assembly 2052A is rotated about the
central axis of the
pin disposed in the pin receptacle 2092, the magnetic sensor follows a
rotational path that
passes directly above the through-hole of the magnet (e.g., the magnetic
sensor may be
disposed substantially the same distance from a central axis of the pin as the
through-hole in
the magnet). The magnetic sensor may be configured to determine whether the
magnetic
sensor is aligned with the through-hole of the magnet or a non-through-hole
portion of the
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magnet (e.g., the body of the magnet). In some embodiments, the magnetic
sensor may be
configured to determine whether the magnetic sensor is aligned with the slot
of the magnet,
the through-hole portion of the magnet, or the body of the magnet. For
example, the
electronics assembly 2097 (e.g., a processor of the electronics assembly
2097), using data
collected by the magnetic sensor in combination with data collected by a
gyroscope of the
electronics assembly, may be configured to determine whether the magnetic
sensor is
disposed over the through-hole portion of the magnet, the body of the magnet,
and/or the slot
of the magnet based on, for example, whether the magnetic sensor senses the
presence of a
magnet or not at a particular orientation of the electronics assembly 2097 and
the brace
housing 2091 relative to the pin and, in some embodiments, the size (e.g.,
lateral distance) of
a portion of the arcuate path of the magnetic sensor in which the magnetic
sensor does not
sense a magnet. Thus, the electronics assembly 2097 may determine whether the
magnetic
sensor is sensing the through-hole or the slot based on a known size of the
through-hole or
the slot (e.g., the through-hole having a different width (e.g., a greater
width) than the slot).
11231
After finding the location of the through-hole, the electronics assembly
2097
may store the location as a reference point (e.g., a 0 degree location) for
the gyroscope. Thus,
during use of the oarlock assembly 2052, the electronics assembly 2097 may
measure the
angle of rotation of the oarlock base assembly 2052A (including the brace
housing 2091
within which an oar may be disposed) relative to the reference point (i.e.,
the through-hole of
the magnet). The electronics assembly 2097 may measure a rotational angle of
movement of
the oarlock base assembly 2052A (and, thus, the rotational movement of an oar
disposed
within the opening 2093) relative to the reference point in either rotational
direction. For
example, the electronics assembly 2097 may measure the rotational angle of
movement of the
oarlock base assembly 2052A (and, thus, the rotational movement of an oar
disposed within
the opening 2093) towards the bow of the boat during the catch when the oars
enter the water
and towards the stem of the boat during the finish when the oars exit the
water. The
electronic assembly 2097, using the magnetic sensor and the gyroscope, may
then determine
the location in which the oars are perpendicular to the boat based on the
angle associated with
the catch relative to the reference point and the angle associated with the
finish relative to the
reference point. The electronics assembly 2097, using the gyroscope and the
magnetic sensor,
may then use the determined perpendicular angle and the detected and stored
reference point
to determine (e.g., measure) the angle of the oars (e.g., relative to a
centerline of the boat
from stern to bow) at any given time during a rowing motion. Thus, the magnet
does not need
to be oriented at any particular orientation relative to the oarlock base
assembly 2052A (e.g.,
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the brace housing 2091 or the pin cavity 2093B) or relative to the electronics
assembly 2097
during installation of the oarlock assembly 2052, as the electronics assembly
2097 may
determine the orientation of the magnet and measure an angle of an oar through
the opening
2093 of the brace housing 2091 relative to a detected reference point on the
magnet, then
correct for any difference in orientation between the orientation of the
magnet in its current
orientation and the orientation of the magnet if it had been arranged with a
line through the
through-hole and the central axis of the central opening of the magnet being
parallel to a
centerline of the boat from stern to bow (i.e., being perpendicular to an oar
extending
perpendicularly from a side of the boat).
11241 In some embodiments, the oarlock base assembly 2052A is
configured to be
fully supportive of an oar relative to a pin of a boat disposed within the pin
cavity 2093B with
the electronics assembly 2097 decoupled from the oarlock base assembly 2052A
such that the
oarlock base assembly 2052A may be used without the electronics assembly 2097
or the
power storage assembly 2057. Thus, the oarlock base assembly 2052A may be used
without
the electronics assembly 2097 and the power storage assembly 2057 without
needing to
remove the oarlock base assembly 2052A from the pin or make any adjustments of
the
oarlock base assembly 2052A relative to the pin. For example, to row without
the electronics
assembly 2097 and/or the power storage assembly 2057 (e.g., in a competition
disallowing
the use of the electronics assembly 2097), the electronics assembly 2097
and/or the power
storage assembly 2057 may be simply uncoupled from the brace housing 2091
(e.g., via
unlatching the enclosures of the electronics assembly 2097 and/or the power
storage
assembly 2057 from an outer surface of the brace housing 2091).
11251 In some embodiments, to install the oarlock assembly 2052
on a boat, the
tubular member 2058, with a bushing disposed on each end, may be inserted into
the pin
cavity 2093 such that the electrical contacts 2059 on the tubular member 2058
are accessible
from outside of the brace housing 2091. The electronics assembly 2097 may be
coupled to
the brace housing 2052 such that the electronics assembly 2097 is operably
coupled to the
electrical contacts 2059 and may read resistance changes and/or voltage
differentials of the
strain gauge assembly 2058A via the electrical contacts 2059. The power
storage assembly
2057 may then be coupled to the electronics assembly 2097 such that the power
storage
assembly 2057 may provide operational power to the electronics assembly 2097.
In some
embodiments, if the brace housing 2091 degrades, the tubular member 2058 can
be removed
from the cavity 2093B (e.g., after separating the electronics assembly 2097
from the brace
housing 2091) and inserted for use into another brace housing 2091.
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[126] When the oarlock assembly 2052 is assembled and installed on a boat,
the
electronics assembly 2097 may read resistance changes and/or voltage
differentials of the
strain gauge assembly 2058A via the electrical contacts 2059. For example, the
strain gauge
assembly 2058A may include four strain gauges electrically coupled to form a
Wheatstone
bridge. The electronics assembly 2097 can be configured to apply a voltage to
the strain
gauge assembly 2058A via the electrical contacts 2059 and to measure a
differential voltage
across outputs of the electrical contacts 2059. The differential voltage
across the outputs may
be proportional to the force applied to the tubular member 2058, and thus can
be used by the
electronics assembly 2097 to determine an amount of force applied by an oar
(e.g., via an
oarlock) against the surface 2091A. A similar approach can be used to measure
resistance
changes and determine an amount of force applied by an oar (e.g., via an
oarlock) against the
surface 2091A based on the resistance change due to the deformation of the
tubular member
2058 under the force of an oar against the surface 2091A.
[127] FIG. 22 is a schematic illustration of an oarlock assembly 2152 (also
referred
to as an oarlock sensor or an oarlock). The oarlock assembly 2152 may be the
same or similar
in structure and/or function to any of the oarlock assemblies or sensors
described herein. The
oarlock assembly 2152 includes an oarlock base assembly 2152A, an electronics
assembly
2197, and a power storage assembly 2157. The oarlock base assembly 2152A
includes a
brace housing 2191 and a tubular member 2158. The tubular member 2158 defines
a pin
receptacle 2192 shaped and sized to receive an oarlock pin 2198 of a boat. The
tubular
member 2158 includes a strain gauge (not shown) and electrical contacts 2159.
The brace
housing 2191 defines an opening 2193 shaped and sized to receive an oar collar
of an oar and
a pin cavity 2193B shaped and sized to receive the tubular member 2158. The
pin cavity
2193B may be substantially cylindrical and have a central axis disposed
perpendicularly
relative to the central axis of the opening 2193 (e.g., going into the page).
[128] FIGS. 23A-23F are various views of the tubular member 2158 without
the
strain gauge included. FIGS. 23A-23C are various perspective views of the
tubular member
2158. FIG. 23D is a side view of the tubular member 2158. FIG. 23E is a cross-
sectional
view taken along line A-A in FIG. 23D. FIG. 23F is a cross-sectional view
taken along line
B-B in FIG. 23D. The tubular member 2158 includes an elongated tube 2158C. In
some
embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 22-24, the tubular member 2158 may include end
portions
2158D and 2158E disposed on opposing ends of the elongated tube 2158C. The end
portions
2158D and 2158E may have a larger outer diameter than the elongated tube
2158C. The end
portions 2158D and 2158E may have a larger or smaller inner diameter than the
elongated
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tube 2158C. The tubular member 2158 may also include a central portion 2158B
having a
larger perimeter than a perimeter of a cross-section of the elongated tube
2158C adjacent the
central portion 2158B. The elongated tube 2158C may have a constant inner
and/or outer
diameter between the end portions 2158D and 2158E (e.g., on either side of the
central
portion 2158B). The central portion 2158B may define a receiving aperture
2158F within
which electrical contacts 2159 may be disposed and may be engaged by
electrical contacts
21971 of the electronics assembly 2197, described in more detail below.
Opposite the
receiving aperture 2158F relative to a central axis of the elongated tube
2158C, the central
portion 2158B may include an extension portion 2158G (e.g., a rounded
extension portion)
that extends laterally away from a central axis A of the tubular member 2158
and laterally
away from an outer surface of the elongated tube 2158C. In some embodiments,
as shown in
FIG. 22, the extension portion 2158G extends a sufficient distance from an
outer surface of
the elongated tube 2158C adjacent the rounded portion such that, when the
tubular member
2158 is disposed within the pin cavity 2193B (e.g., with each end portion
2158D, 2158E
supported by and coupled to the brace housing 2091 via a bushing), the
extension portion
2158G contacts a sidewall of the pin cavity 2193B (e.g., at a location
opposite the contact
point of an oar or an oar collar against the surface 2191A). In some
embodiments, the
extension portion 2158G and/or the central portion 2158 can be disposed such
that, when the
tubular member 2158 is disposed within the cavity 2193B, the extension portion
2158G
and/or the central portion 2158 is vertically centered relative to a contact
point of the oar
against the surface 2191A (e.g., a point of contact, force or maximum force
applied by the oar
against the surface 2191A during a rowing movement, represented in FIG. 22 as
being the
location where the axis B intersects the surface 2191A). In some embodiments,
the central
portion 2158B may have a length that is less than a third of the length of the
tubular member
2158. In some embodiments, the central portion 2158B may have a length that is
less than a
quarter of the length of the central portion 2158B. In some embodiments, the
extension
portion 2158G may extend farther laterally from a central axis A of the
tubular member 2158
than any other portion of the tubular member 2158. The central portion 2158B
may include
parallel, oppositely disposed straight edge portions 2158H coupling the
portion of the central
portion 2158B defining the receiving aperture 2158F and the extension portion
2158G. In
some embodiments, the pin cavity 2193B may have a cross-section shape
corresponding to
the cross-sectional shape of the central portion 2158B such that the tubular
member 2158
may only be inserted into the pin cavity 2193B in one or two orientations. For
example, the
pin cavity 2193B may have two elongated, oppositely disposed flat sides
configured to be
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aligned with the straight edge portions 2158H of the central portion 2158B of
the tubular
member 2158 and oppositely disposed curved sides connected by the flat sides
and
configured to be aligned with the portion of the central portion 2158B
defining the receiving
aperture 2158F and the extension portion 2158G, respectively. Each of the
straight edge
portions 215811 may include a set of openings 21581 configured to align with
corresponding
openings in the brace housing 2191 and through which fixation elements such as
bolts or
screws may be inserted to secure the tubular member 2158 relative to the brace
housing 2191.
For example, FIG. 25 shows a schematic illustration of a portion of the brace
housing 2191
defining the pin cavity 2193B (the portion of the brace housing defining the
opening 2193
and coupled to the portion defining the pin cavity 2193B not shown in FIG. 25)
within which
a tubular member 2158 and bushings 2193C, 2193D are disposed. The brace
housing 2191 is
shown in FIG. 25 as disclosing elongated, oppositely disposed flat sides 2191B
and
oppositely disposed curved sides 2191C. The flat sides 2191B each define
openings 2191D
configured to align with the openings 21581 of the tubular member 2158 such
that each pair
of aligned openings may receive a fixation elements such as a bolt or a screw
to fixedly
secure the tubular member 2158 relative to the brace housing 2191. One of the
oppositely
disposed curved sides 2191C defines an aperture 2191E through which the
receiving aperture
2158F of the tubular member 2158 (and the electrical contacts 2159 disposed in
the receiving
aperture 2158F may be accessed through the brace housing 2191 (e.g., by
electrical contacts
21971 described below).
11291 FIG. 24A is a schematic illustration of an electrical
assembly 2158A including
at least one strain gauge configured to be coupled to the tubular member 2158.
As shown, the
assembly 2158A includes a flexible circuit disposed on a backing having a base
portion
2159D configured to be disposed within the receiving aperture 2158F of the
central portion
2158B of the tubular member 2158 and two leg portions 2159B and 2159C
extending from
the base portion 2159D (e.g., from opposite ends of the base portion 2159A in
the same
direction and in parallel). The set of four electrical contacts 2159 may be
disposed in or on
the base portion 2159D. The two leg or wing portions 2159B and 2159C are
configured to be
disposed on the outer surface of the elongated tube 2158C adjacent opposite
ends of the
central portion 2158B such that the assembly 2158A wraps halfway (i.e., 180
degrees) around
the elongated tube 2158C. For example, FIG. 24B is schematic illustration of a
tubular
member 3058 that may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to
the tubular
member 2158. As shown in FIG. 24B, the tubular member 3058 includes an
electrical
assembly 3058A that may be the same or similar in structure and/or function to
the electrical
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assembly 2158A, and has a base portion including electrical contacts disposed
in a receiving
aperture of the tubular member 3058 and leg or wing portions wrapped halfway
around an
outer surface of the tubular member adjacent to a central portion of the
tubular member.
11301 The electrical assembly 2158A includes four strain
gauges. Two may be
located on a first side of the tubular member 2158 (e.g., aligned with the
receiving aperture
2158F) and two may be located 180 degrees from the first two on a portion of
the tubular
member 2158 aligned with the center of the extending portion 2158G (e.g.,
facing the oar
contacting surface). For example, all four strain gauges may be disposed on
the tubular
member 2158 such that they lie in the same plane, with a first strain gauge
and a second
strain gauge vertically aligned on a first side of the tubular member 2158
(facing away from
the contact surface 2191A) and a second strain gauge and a third strain gauge
vertically
aligned on a second side of the tubular member 2158 opposite the first side
(e.g., facing
toward the contact surface 2191A). The first strain gauge and the third strain
gauge may be
horizontally aligned and disposed on a first side of the central portion 2158B
(e.g., above the
central portion 2158A) and the second strain gauge and the fourth strain gauge
may be
horizontally aligned and disposed on a second side of the central portion
2158B (e.g., below
the central portion 2158B). The strain gauges may be the same or similar in
structure and/or
function to any of the strain gauges described herein, such as those of strain
gauge assembly
2058A. Each strain gauge may be electrically coupled (e.g., soldered) to an
electrical contact
of the set of four electrical contacts 2159 via one or more flexible circuits
mounted on the
backing of the electrical assembly 2158A. In some embodiments, the strain
gauges and the
flexible circuits form a Wheatstone flexible circuit in contact with the
electrical contacts
2159.
11311 The brace housing 2191 also includes an oar contact
surface 2191A arranged
relative to and aligned with the strain gauge of the tubular member 2158 such
that force
applied on the oar contact surface 2191A during a rowing movement of the oar
may be
measured by the strain gauge assembly of the tubular member 2158. For example,
as shown
in FIG. 22, the central portion 2158B of the tubular member 2158 (e.g., an
extended diameter
portion relative to a tubular body of the tubular member 2158) may be disposed
in contact
with a portion of the brace housing 2191 opposite the oar contact surface
2191A such that
force on the oar contact surface 2191A is transferred to the central portion
2191A of the
tubular member 2158 via the brace housing 2191, causing a deformation of the
tubular
member 2158 that may be measured using the strain gauges similarly as
described above with
respect to the oarlock assembly 2052. As shown in FIG. 22, the tubular member
2158
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includes a first bushing 2193C and a second bushing 2193D disposed on
respective ends of
the tubular member 2158. The tubular member 2158 and the bushings 2193C, 1293D
may be
shaped and sized such that the bushings support the tubular member 2158 within
the pin
cavity 2093B such that the only portion of the tubular member 2158 in contact
with the brace
housing 2191 (besides the bushings) is the central portion 2191A of the
tubular member
2158. As shown in FIG. 22, the oar contact surface 2191A may be disposed in a
plane
disposed at an angle relative to the central axis of the pin receptacle 2192
and/or the central
axis of the pin cavity 2193B. The angle may be, for example, about 2 degrees,
about 3
degrees, about 4 degrees, about 5 degrees, about 6 degrees, an angle between
about 2 and 6
degrees, an angle between about 3 and 5 degrees, or an angle between about 3
and 4 degrees.
11321 The electronics assembly 2197 includes a processor 2197D
mounted on a
printed circuit board (PCB) 1097F. The processor 2197D may be configured to
determine a
force of the oar collar against the oar contact surface 2191A during a rowing
motion of the
oar. Although not shown, in some embodiments the electronics assembly 2197
includes a
memory and an IMU, a gyroscope, and/or an accelerometer. In some embodiments,
the
electronics assembly 2197 includes a magnetic sensor 2097G, which may include
a magnetic
switch, configured to sense the presence of a magnetic field near (e.g.,
below) the electronics
assembly 2197. In some embodiments, the electronics assembly 2197 includes a
wireless
communication subassembly 2197H configured to communicate data collected by
the oarlock
assembly 2197 via a wireless network (e.g., via Bluetooth communication). For
example,
the wireless communication subassembly 2197H may include an antenna, a
transmitter,
and/or a transceiver. In some embodiments, the wireless communication
subassembly 2197H
may be configured to communicate data associated with the force of the oar
collar against the
oar contact surface 2191A and/or oar angle data.
11331 The electronics assembly 2197 includes an electrical
connection 21971 for
electrically coupling the electronics assembly 2197 to the strain gauge of the
tubular member
2158. In some embodiments, as shown, the electrical connection 21971 of the
electronics
assembly 2197 includes pogo pins configured to contact electrical contacts
2159 of the
tubular member 2158 when the electronics assembly 2197 is coupled to the
tubular member
2158. In some embodiments, the pogo pins may be spring-loaded such that the
pogo pins may
be compressed to a shorter length when coupling the electronics assembly 2197
to the tubular
member 2158, and may expand under the force of the springs to contact the
electrical
contacts 2159 of the tubular member 2158 when the electronics assembly 2197 is
properly
coupled to the tubular member 2158.
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11341 The enclosure 2197J (also referred to as a housing) of
the electronics assembly
2197 may be watertight such that an interior of the enclosure 2197J is
fluidically isolated
from an exterior of the enclosure 2197J, preventing splashed water from
reaching an interior
of the enclosure 21971 A power transfer interface (not shown) of the
electronics assembly
2197 may be accessible through the exterior of the enclosure 2197J (e.g.,
electrical contacts
may be disposed within openings of the enclosure 2197J such that an interface
between each
electrical contact and the enclosure 2197J is sealed to prevent water from
traveling to an
interior of the enclosure). Additionally, the electronics assembly 2097 may
include any
suitable buttons (e.g., on/off buttons), switches, or status lights accessible
or visible through
the enclosure 2197J and sealed relative to the enclosure 2197J to prevent
water from traveling
into the enclosure 21971
11351 The enclosure 2197J of the electronics assembly 2097 may
include any
suitable mounting component configured to engage with a mating mounting
component
associated with the tubular member 2158. The mounting component of the
enclosure 2197J
of the electronics assembly 2197 and the mating mounting component associated
with the
tubular member 2158 may include, for example, one or more latches and
engagement posts,
flexible arms with retention elements and receiving indents, flanges, or
grooves, straps,
buttons, and/or any other suitable mating mounting components that allow the
electronics
assembly 2197 to be reversibly coupled to the tubular member 2158 to measure
resistance
changes of the strain gauge 2158A and, optionally, to sense presence or
absence of a
magnetic field (e.g., of a body of magnet) as described in more detail below.
In some
embodiments, as shown in FIG. 22, the electronics assembly 2297 may be mounted
to the
brace housing 2191 (e.g., the portion of the brace housing 2191 defining the
pin cavity
2193B) such that the electrical contacts 21971 of the electronics assembly
2197 are operably
coupled to electrical contacts 2159 of the tubular member 2158 disposed in the
pin cavity
2193B of the brace housing 2191.
11361 The power storage assembly 2157 may include a power
storage component
2197B and an enclosure 2197K. The power storage component 2197B may be any
suitable
power storage component, such as a rechargeable battery. The power storage
assembly 2157
may include a power transfer interface (not shown) including any suitable
power transfer
components (e.g., any suitable power transfer components described herein)
configured to
operably couple with a power transfer interface of the electronics assembly
2197 to provide
energy to the electronics assembly 2197 to operably power the electronics
assembly 2197.
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[137] The enclosure 2197K (also referred to as a housing) of the power
storage
assembly 2157 may be watertight such that an interior of the enclosure is
fluidically isolated
from an exterior of the enclosure, preventing splashed water from reaching an
interior of the
enclosure. The power transfer interface may be accessible through the exterior
of the
enclosure (e.g., electrical contacts may be disposed within openings of the
enclosure such that
an interface between each electrical contact and the enclosure housing is
sealed to prevent
water from traveling to an interior of the enclosure). Additionally, the
enclosure may define
an opening through which the power storage component 2197B may be charged
(e.g., via AC
power) in which the interface of the enclosure and a charging port is sealed
(e.g., watertight).
Additionally, the power storage assembly 2157 may include any suitable buttons
(e.g., on/off
buttons such as on/off switch 2197E), switches, or status lights accessible or
visible through
the enclosure and sealed relative to the enclosure to prevent water from
traveling into the
enclosure.
[138] The enclosure 2197K of the power storage assembly 2157 may include
any
suitable mounting component configured to engage with a mating mounting
component of
the enclosure of the electronics assembly 2197. The mounting component of the
enclosure of
the power storage assembly 2157 and the mating mounting component of the
enclosure of the
electronics assembly 2197 may include, for example, one or more latches and
engagement
posts, flexible arms with retention elements and receiving indents, flanges,
or grooves, straps,
buttons, and/or any other suitable mating mounting components that allow the
power storage
assembly 2157 to be reversibly coupled to the electronics assembly 2197 to
provide energy
(e.g., operation power) to the electronics assembly 2197. Thus, the power
storage assembly
2157 may be separated from the electronics assembly 2197 for charging without
needing to
remove the electronics assembly 2197 from the oarlock base assembly 2152A. In
some
embodiments, any of a set of power storage assemblies 2157 may be coupled to
the
electronics assembly 2197 to provide operation power to the electronics
assembly 2197
without requiring any specialized programming of the electronics assembly 2197
such that a
power storage assembly 2157 with a power storage component with a low power
storage
level may be replaced with a power storage component with a higher power
storage level.
[139] As shown in FIG. 22, the oarlock assembly 2152 may also optionally
include a
magnetic alignment assembly 2147. The magnetic alignment assembly 2147 may
include a
magnet 2147A and the magnetic sensor 2197G described above. As described, the
magnetic
sensor 2197G may be included in, for example, the electronics assembly 2197.
In some
embodiments, as shown in FIG. 22, the magnetic alignment assembly 2147 may
include only
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a single magnet 2147A. As shown in FIG. 26, which is a schematic illustration
of a
perspective view of the magnet 2147A, the magnet 2147A may be formed such that
it has a
central opening 2147D shaped and sized to receive an oarlock pin of a boat.
The magnet
2147A may include an extension portion extending away from a central axis of
the central
opening 2147D such that the magnet 2147A has a greater lateral extent in one
direction
relative to the central axis of the central opening 2147D than a lateral
extent of the magnet
2147A in the opposite direction. Additionally, the magnet 2147A may define a
through-hole
2147B in the extension portion that is disposed parallel to the central axis
of the central
opening 2147D. The magnet 2147 may also define a slot 2147C opposite of the
through-hole
2147A relative to the central axis of the central opening 2147D. The slot
2147C and the
central opening 2147D may be defined such that the magnet 2147A defines a
continuous
perimeter around the central opening 2147D except for the location of the slot
2147C, which
extends from the central opening 2147D to an outer surface of the magnet
2147A. The
magnet 2147A may be disposed on the oarlock pin below the tubular member 2158
and
separated from the tubular member 2158 by one or more spacers 2198A (e.g., any
suitable
number of spacers, such as one, two, three, four, or five spacers of any
suitable thickness).
The magnet 2147A may be secured relative to the pin 2198 via one or more
spacers 2198A
disposed above and below the magnet 2198A. The spacers 2198A immediately above
and
below the magnet 2198A may apply pressure to the magnet 2147A to fix the
orientation of
the magnet 2147A relative to the pin 2198 due to the bolts 2198B on either
side of the pin
2198 applying a compressive force on any spacers 2198A, the tubular member
2158
including the bushings 2193C, 2193D, and the magnet 2147A disposed between the
oppositely-disposed bolts 2198B.
11401 The through-hole 2147B in the magnet 2147A may be used as
a magnetic
reference for the IIVIG (e.g., gyroscope) of the electronics assembly 2197.
The magnetic
sensor 2197G is not reliant on an exact distance from the magnet 2147A, and
thus the magnet
2147A and/or the magnetic sensor 2197G will not need to be adjusted or reset
each time a
vertical position of the remainder of the oarlock assembly 2152 is adjusted
relative to the
oarlock pin. The magnet 2147A provides a zero offset reference to provide an
automate
adjustment to the IMU (e.g., gyroscope) angle readings. The zero offset
reference point
allows for adjustment of angle drift in the gyroscope.
11411 In some embodiments, the magnetic sensor 2197G of the
electronics assembly
2197 may detect the through-hole 2147B in the magnet 2147A. For example, the
magnetic
sensor 2197G may be disposed such that, when the electronics assembly 2197 is
mounted to
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the oarlock base assembly 2152A and the oarlock base assembly 2152A is rotated
about the
central axis of the pin 2198 disposed in the pin receptacle 2192, the magnetic
sensor 2197G
follows a rotational path that passes directly above the through-hole 2147B of
the magnet
2147A (e.g., the magnetic sensor 2197G may be disposed substantially the same
distance
from a central axis of the pin as the through-hole 2147B in the magnet 2147A).
The magnetic
sensor 2197G may be configured to determine whether the magnetic sensor 2197G
is aligned
with the through-hole 2147B of the magnet 2147A or a non-through-hole portion
of the
magnet 2147A (e.g., the body of the magnet). In some embodiments, the magnetic
sensor
2197G may be configured to determine whether the magnetic sensor 2197G is
aligned with
the slot 2147C of the magnet 2147A, the through-hole portion 2147B of the
magnet 2147A,
or the body of the magnet 2147A. For example, the electronics assembly 2197
(e.g., a
processor of the electronics assembly 2197), using data collected by the
magnetic sensor
2197G in combination with data collected by the gyroscope of the electronics
assembly 2197,
may be configured to determine whether the magnetic sensor 2197G is disposed
over the
through-hole portion 2197B of the magnet 2147A, the body of the magnet 2147A,
and/or the
slot 2147C of the magnet 2197A based on, for example, whether the magnetic
sensor 2197G
senses the presence of a magnet (e.g., a magnetic field) or not at a
particular orientation of the
electronics assembly 2197 and the brace housing 2191 relative to the pin 2198
and, in some
embodiments, the size (e.g., lateral distance) of a portion of the arcuate
path of the magnetic
sensor 2197G in which the magnetic sensor 2197G does not sense a magnet. Thus,
the
electronics assembly 2197 may determine whether the magnetic sensor is sensing
the
through-hole 2197B or the slot 2197C based on a known size or relative sizes
of the through-
hole 2197B or the slot 2197C (e.g., the through-hole 2197B having a different
width (e.g., a
greater width) than the slot 2197C).
11421 After finding the location of the through-hole 2197B, the
electronics assembly
2197 may store the location as a reference point (e.g., a 0 degree location)
for the gyroscope
in the memory of the electronics assembly 2197. Thus, during use of the
oarlock assembly
2152, the electronics assembly 2197 may measure the angle of rotation of the
oarlock base
assembly 2152A (including the brace housing 2191 within which an oar may be
disposed)
relative to the reference point (i.e., the through-hole 2147B of the magnet
2147A). The
electronics assembly 2197 may measure a rotational angle of movement of the
oarlock base
assembly 2152A (and, thus, the rotational movement of an oar disposed within
the opening
2193) relative to the reference point in either rotational direction. For
example, the
electronics assembly 2197 may measure the rotational angle of movement of the
oarlock base
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assembly 2152A (and, thus, the rotational movement of an oar disposed within
the opening
2193) towards the bow of the boat during the catch when the oars enter the
water and towards
the stern of the boat during the finish when the oars exit the water. The
electronic assembly
2197, using the magnetic sensor 2197G and the gyroscope, may then determine
the location
in which the oars are perpendicular to the boat based on the angle associated
with the catch
relative to the reference point and the angle associated with the finish
relative to the reference
point. The electronics assembly 2197, using the gyroscope and the magnetic
sensor 2197G,
may then use the determined perpendicular angle and the detected and stored
reference point
to determine (e.g., measure) the angle of the oars (e.g., relative to a
centerline of the boat
from stern to bow) at any given time during a rowing motion. Thus, the magnet
2147A does
not need to be oriented at any particular orientation relative to the oarlock
base assembly
2152A (e.g., the brace housing 2191 or the pin cavity 2193B) or relative to
the electronics
assembly 2197 during installation of the oarlock assembly 2152, as the
electronics assembly
2197 may determine the orientation of the magnet 2147A and measure an angle of
an oar
through the opening 2193 of the brace housing 2191 relative to a detected
reference point on
the magnet 2147A, then correct for any difference in orientation between the
orientation of
the magnet in its current orientation and the orientation of the magnet if it
had been arranged
with a line through the through-hole 2147B and the central axis of the central
opening of the
magnet 2147A being parallel to a centerline of the boat from stern to bow
(i.e., being
perpendicular to an oar extending perpendicularly from a side of the boat).
[143]
In some embodiments, such as for sculling with two oars per rower, and
thus
two oarlock assemblies, the through-hole 2147B of the magnet 2147A of each
oarlock
assembly can be threaded with an elongated member such as an elastic cord, a
string, or a
rope. The elongated member can be tightened, causing the magnets of each
oarlock to be
pulled toward each other, and perpendicular to the boat. The magnets can then
be secured in
place. In some embodiments, such as if no IMU is included or available in an
oarlock, the
magnet can be formed as a disk that allows for a precise reading at any
location above the
disk. To determine an orientation of the magnet or a point on the magnet that
is
perpendicular to the boat, two opposing oarlocks may be strapped together to
create a straight
line across the boat and perpendicular to a centerline of the boat. A mobile
device, such as
any of the mobile devices described herein, operably coupled to (e.g., paired
with) the
oarlocks may record the angle on each oarlock at this point as the "zero"
angle. This angle
then becomes the 90 degree reference angle for all angle readings during a
rowing session.
Thus, the magnetic disk (e.g., the magnetic reference) may be installed in any
angular
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orientation on the pin and will not require alignment except for the zero
procedure as
described above.
11441 In some embodiments, the oarlock base assembly 2152A is
configured to be
fully supportive of an oar relative to a pin 2198 of a boat disposed within
the pin cavity
2193B with the electronics assembly 2197 decoupled from the oarlock base
assembly 2152A
such that the oarlock base assembly 2152A may be used without the electronics
assembly
2197 or the power storage assembly 2157. Thus, the oarlock base assembly 2152A
may be
used without the electronics assembly 2197 and the power storage assembly 2157
without
needing to remove the oarlock base assembly 2152A from the pin 2198 or make
any
adjustments of the oarlock base assembly 2152A relative to the pin 2198. For
example, to
row without the electronics assembly 2197 and/or the power storage assembly
2157 (e.g., in a
competition disallowing the use of the electronics assembly 2197), the
electronics assembly
2197 and/or the power storage assembly 2157 may be simply uncoupled from the
brace
housing 2191 (e.g., via unlatching the enclosures of the electronics assembly
2197 and/or the
power storage assembly 2157 from an outer surface of the brace housing 2191).
11451 In some embodiments, the processor of the electronics
assembly 2197 can
include a microcontroller such as a Nordic NRF52840, the IMU of the
electronics assembly
2197 can include a BN0055, a strain gauge amplifier of the electronics
assembly 2197 can
include a NAU7802, and/or a magnetic sensor of the electronics assembly 2197
can include a
magnetic switch AH9246.
11461 In some embodiments, an oarlock assembly may include an
electronics
assembly that is fixed to the brace housing (e.g., within a common housing at
the brace
housing or within a housing that is monolithically formed with the brace
housing and/or
permanently coupled to the brace housing). Such an oarlock assembly may
include a power
storage assembly that is reversibly couplable to the brace housing (e.g., to
the portion of the
brace housing enclosing the electronics assembly). For example, FIG. 27 is a
schematic
illustration of an oarlock assembly 2252 including a base assembly 2252A and a
power
storage assembly 2257. The base assembly 2252A includes a brace housing 2291
and an
electronics assembly 2297. FIG. 28 is a schematic illustration of the base
assembly 2252A
without the power storage assembly 2257 and FIG. 29 is a schematic
illustration of the power
storage assembly 2257. The oarlock assembly 2252 may be the same or similar in
structure
and/or function to any of the oarlock assemblies described herein. For
example, the brace
housing 2291, the electronics assembly 2297, and the power storage assembly
2257 may the
same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the brace housings,
electronics
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assemblies, and/or power storage assemblies, respectively, described herein.
The brace
housing 2291 may define a pin cavity 2293B and an opening 2293. As shown in
FIG. 27, a
tubular member (not visible) may be disposed within the pin cavity 2293B and
supported via
a first bushing 2293C and a second bushing 2293D, and a pin 2298 may be
disposed within a
pin receptacle 2292 of the tubular member. The tubular member, and thus the
brace housing
2291, may be secured to the pin 2298 via any suitable spacers 2298A and pin
nuts or bolts.
11471 The electronics assembly 2297 includes an enclosure 2297J
that is fixedly
coupled to and/or monolithically formed with the portion of the brace housing
2291 defining
the pin cavity 2293B. As shown in FIG. 28, the electronics assembly 2297
includes a set of
electrical contacts 2297L. The power storage assembly 2257 includes an
enclosure 2297K
and a set of electrical contacts 2257A. The enclosure 2297K is configured to
be releasably
coupled to the enclosure 2297J such that each electrical contact of the set of
electrical
contacts 2257A is aligned and in contact with a respective electrical contact
of the set of
electrical contacts 2297L and energy may be provided from a power storage
component of
the power storage assembly 2257 to the electronics assembly 2297 via the sets
of electrical
contacts 2297L and 2257A.
11481 As shown in FIG. 29, the enclosure 2297K of the power
storage assembly
2257 may include retaining arms 2257B, 2257C, and 2257D configured to
releasably engage
with the enclosure 2297J of the electronics assembly 2297. As shown in FIG.
29, the
retaining arms 2257B and 2257C may extend from a first side of the enclosure
2297K and the
retaining arm 2257D may extend from a second side of the enclosure 2297K
opposite the first
side. The retaining arms 2257B, 2257C, and 2257D may be configured to grip
opposing sides
of the enclosure 2297J such that the power storage assembly 2257 is releasably
coupled to the
electronics assembly 2297. In some embodiments, the retaining arms on at least
one side of
the enclosure 2297K may be flexed from a retaining configuration to a released
configuration
such that the enclosure 2297K may be mounted to the enclosure 2297J by
coupling the
retaining arm(s) on a first side of the enclosure 2297K to a first side of the
enclosure 2297J
and then the retaining arm(s) on a second side of the enclosure 2297K may be
flexed
outwardly relative to the first side of the enclosure 2297K to the released
configuration to
receive a second side of the enclosure 2297J, and then the retaining arm(s) on
the second side
of the enclosure 2297K may snap back into the retaining configuration to
engage the second
side of the enclosure 2297K. One or more of the retaining arms 2257B, 2257C,
and 2257D
may be biased toward the retaining configuration and flexible to the released
configuration.
Thus, the power storage assembly 2257 may be reversibly clipped onto the
electronics
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assembly 2297. In some embodiments, rather than clipping the power storage
assembly 2257
onto the electronics assembly 2297 via a rotational, clip on movement, the
power storage
assembly 2257 may be slid over the electronics assembly 2297 (e.g., edges of
the enclosure
2297J may form rails shaped to be received within grooves defined in opposing
sides of the
enclosure 2297K (e.g., by retaining arms)) to reversibly couple to the
electronics assembly
2297.
11491 In some embodiments, the electronics assembly 2297 may be
reversibly
coupled to the brace housing 2291 in a similar manner in which the power
storage assembly
2257 may be reversibly coupled to the electronics assembly 2297. Thus, in some
embodiments, as shown in FIG. 30 for example, the brace housing 2291 may
include one or
more openings or apertures 2291E through which the electronics assembly 2297
may be
placed in electrically contact with the tubular member disposed within the pin
cavity 2293B.
The enclosure 2297J of the electronics assembly 2297 may be reversibly coupled
to the brace
housing 2291 via any suitable releasable coupling mechanism or releasable
engagement
feature, such as any described herein.
11501 FIGS. 31-33 are schematic illustrations of various views
of an oarlock
assembly 2352. The oarlock assembly 2352 includes a base assembly 2352A
including a
brace housing 2391, an electronics assembly 2397, and a power storage assembly
2357. The
oarlock assembly 2352 may be the same or similar in structure and/or function
to any of the
oarlock assemblies described herein. For example, the brace housing 2391, the
electronics
assembly 2397, and the power storage assembly 2357 may the same or similar in
structure
and/or function to any of the brace housings, electronics assemblies, and/or
power storage
assemblies, respectively, described herein. The brace housing 2391 may define
a pin cavity
2393B and an opening 2393. As shown in FIG. 33, a tubular member (not visible)
may be
disposed within the pin cavity 2393B and supported via a first bushing 2393C
and a second
bushing 2393D, and a pin 2398 may be disposed within a pin receptacle 2392 of
the tubular
member. The tubular member, and thus the brace housing 2391, may be secured to
the pin
2398 via any suitable spacers 2398A and pin nuts or bolts.
11511 The electronics assembly 2397 includes an enclosure 2397J
that may be
fixedly or reversibly coupled to the portion of the brace housing 2391
defining the pin cavity
2393B. As shown in FIG. 32, the brace housing 2391 may include an opening or
aperture
2391E through which the electronics assembly 2397 may be placed in
electrically contact
with the tubular member when the tubular member is disposed within the pin
cavity 2393B.
For example, as shown in FIG. 32, electrical contacts (e.g., pogo pins) of the
electronics
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assembly 2397 may project through and/or beyond the aperture 2391E into the
interior of the
pin cavity 2392B. The enclosure 2397J of the electronics assembly 2397 may be
reversibly
coupled to the brace housing 2391 via any suitable releasable coupling
mechanism or
releasable engagement feature, such as any described herein.
11521 As shown in FIG. 33, the power storage assembly 2357 may
be reversibly
coupled to the electronics assembly 2397 to provide energy (e.g., operation
power) to the
electronics assembly 2397. As shown in FIG. 33, an enclosure 2397K of the
power storage
assembly 2357 may include a set (e.g., four) latching arms configured to be
reversibly
received by detents and/or grooves of the enclosure 2397J of the electronics
assembly 2397
such that the power storage assembly 2357 may be mounted on the electronics
assembly 2397
during use of the oarlock assembly 2352.
11531 In some embodiments, the brace housing of an oarlock
assembly may include
a reduced thickness portion and/or may define an opening aligned with a
portion of a tubular
member including a strain gauge or a strain gauge assembly such that an oar or
an oar collar
may contact the portion of the tubular member through the reduced thickness
portion or
through the opening. The reduced thickness portion or opening may be disposed
at the
contact point of the oar or oar collar during the rowing motion. For example,
FIGS. 34-36 are
schematic illustrations of various views of an oarlock assembly 2452. FIG. 34
is a side view,
FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 34, and
FIG. 36 is an
enlarged view of the area B in FIG. 35. The oarlock assembly 2452 includes a
base assembly
2452A including a brace housing 2491, an electronics assembly 2497, and a
power storage
assembly 2457. The oarlock assembly 2452 may be the same or similar in
structure and/or
function to any of the oarlock assemblies described herein. For example, the
brace housing
2491, the electronics assembly 2497, and the power storage assembly 2457 may
the same or
similar in structure and/or function to any of the brace housings, electronics
assemblies,
and/or power storage assemblies, respectively, described herein. The brace
housing 2491 may
define a pin cavity 2493B and an opening 2493.
11541 The base assembly 2452A includes a tubular member 2458
which may be the
same or similar in structure and/or function to any of the tubular members
described herein.
For example, the tubular member 2458 may include a central portion 2458B. The
brace
housing 2491 may also include an oar collar contacting surface 2491A defining
a boundary of
the opening 2493 adjacent the tubular member 2458. The oar collar contacting
surface 2491A
may include a reduced thickness portion (i.e., relative to a remainder of the
oar collar
contacting surface 2491A) or an opening 2491F such that an oar or oar collar
disposed within
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the opening 2493 may apply force to the central portion 2458B of the tubular
member 2458
via the reduced thickness portion or opening 2491F.
11551 FIGS. 37 and 38 are perspective views of an electronics
assembly 2597 that is
configured to be mounted to a tubular member, such as any of the tubular
members described
herein, and/or to a brace housing, such as any of the brace housings described
herein, of an
oarlock assembly. The electronics assembly 2597 may be the same or similar in
structure
and/or function to any of the electronics assemblies described herein. As
shown in FIGS. 37
and 38, the electronics assembly 2597 includes an enclosure 2597J. The
enclosure 25971 may
define a set of openings 2597L through which electrical contacts may extend
and/or within
which electrical contacts may be disposed such that the electrical contacts
may contact
electrical contacts of a tubular member. As shown, the enclosure 2597J may
include two tabs
extending in parallel from opposite sides of the set of openings 2597L, with
each tab defining
a set of holes. The enclosure 2597J is configured to be coupled to a tubular
member and/or a
brace housing such that the set of holes align with holes on the tubular
member and/or the
brace housing. Fixation elements such as bolts or screws may be inserted
through the aligned
holes to secure the enclosure 25971 to the tubular member and/or the brace
housing.
11561 FIG. 39 is a perspective view of an electronics assembly
2697 that is
configured to be mounted to a tubular member, such as any of the tubular
members described
herein, and/or to a brace housing, such as any of the brace housings described
herein, of an
oarlock assembly. The electronics assembly 2697 may be the same or similar in
structure
and/or function to any of the electronics assemblies described herein. The
electronics
assembly 2697 includes an enclosure 2697J and an electronics assembly base
2697N.
Electronic components (such as any components described as being included in
any of the
electronics assemblies described herein) may be disposed within the enclosure
2697J. As
shown in FIG. 39, the electronics base 2697N may include an engagement portion
26970 and
the enclosure 2697J may define a recess configured to receive the engagement
portion 26970
such that the enclosure 2697J may be slid over the engagement portion 26970 to
reversibly
couple the enclosure 2697J to the electronics base 2697N. The enclosure 2697J
may define
an opening 2697L through which electrical contacts may extend and/or within
which
electrical contacts may be disposed such that the electrical contacts may
contact electrical
contacts of a tubular member. The electronics base 2697N may have an opening
(not shown)
configured to align with the opening 2697L when the engagement portion 26970
is fully
received within the recess 2697M. As shown, the electronics base 2697N may
include two
tabs extending in parallel from opposite sides of the set of openings 2697L,
with each tab
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defining a set of holes. The electronics base 2697N is configured to be
coupled to a tubular
member and/or a brace housing such that the set of holes align with holes on
the tubular
member and/or the brace housing. Fixation elements such as bolts or screws may
be inserted
through the aligned holes to secure the electronics base 2697N to the tubular
member and/or
the brace housing. The enclosure 2697J may then be reversibly coupled to the
electronics
base 2697N. In some embodiments, a power storage component or a power storage
assembly
may be included within the enclosure 2697J. The enclosure 2697J may be
separated from the
electronics base 2697N when the electronics base 2697N is mounted to a pin of
a boat via a
tubular member and/or brace housing for, for example, recharging. In some
embodiments, a
slide on enclosure cover 2697P may be inserted into the recess 2697M when the
enclosure
2697J is not engaged with the electronics base 2697N.
11571 FIG. 40 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view
of an electronics
assembly 2797. The electronics assembly 2797 may be mounted to a tubular
member, such as
any of the tubular members described herein, and/or to a brace housing, such
as any of the
brace housings described herein, of an oarlock assembly via being slid into
engagement with
the tubular member or brace housing. The electronics assembly 2797 may be the
same or
similar in structure and/or function to any of the electronics assemblies
described herein. The
electronics assembly 2797 includes an enclosure 2797J. Additionally, one or
more power
storage components, such as one or more batteries, may be mounted within side
portions of
the enclosure 2797J.
11581 FIGS. 45-51 show schematic illustrations of examples of
display screens that
may be displayed and/or interacted with using a display of a mobile device,
such as any of the
mobile devices described herein (e.g., the mobile device 102). FIG. 45, for
example, shows a
schematic illustration of a display screen 2930A that may be displayed as a
home screen on a
mobile device. The display screen 2930A may include four options for a user to
select, such
as "Row," "Plan," "Boat," or "Memory." The display screen 2930A may optionally
include
additional information that may be customized by the user, such as data
related to the user's
last row and/or weather data. In some embodiments, the user may choose to skip
this screen
(e.g., during startup of the mobile device or the app) and go directly to
"Row."
11591 FIG. 46 shows a schematic illustration of a display
screen 2930B that may be
displayed, for example, in response to the user selecting "Row" on the display
screen 2930A.
As shown, various metrics may be displayed relating to a live rowing session
based on data
collected relating to the rowing session (e.g., associated with the user, a
particular rower, or a
group of rowers) and received by the mobile device from sensors on the boat
(e.g., one or
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more oarlock sensors), sensed by sensors internal to the mobile device, and/or
retrieved from
an external source by the mobile device. If a training plan is selected, the
activity section will
be displayed. The "GO,- "STOP,- and "PAUSE" buttons may be selected to manage
the
count-down for time, distance, and/or strokes. If no training plan is
selected, the "GO,"
"STOP," and "PAUSE" buttons may be selected to manage the up counter for time
and
distance.
[160] FIG. 47 shows a schematic illustration of a display screen 2930C that
may be
displayed, for example, in response to the user selecting "Plan" on the
display screen 2930A.
Selecting "GO" may cause the mobile device to return to the display screen
2930B.
[161] FIG. 48 shows a schematic illustration of a display screen 2930D that
may be
displayed, for example, in response to the user selecting "Make Plan" on the
display screen
2930C. The user may plan and save a training session by selecting a distances,
numbers of
strokes, time durations, and/or rest durations in any desired arrangement.
[162] FIG. 49 shows a schematic illustration of a display screen 2930E that
may be
displayed, for example, in response to the user selecting -Boat" on the
display screen 2930A.
The user may pair sensors (e.g., one oarlock sensor or left and right oarlock
sensors) to the
mobile device. The user may also select or enter details of the boat, such as
boat parameters
and/or select or enter details of the oars, such as oar parameters. In some
embodiments, the
boat and/or oar parameters may be selected from a list (e.g., a drop down
list).
[163] FIG. 50 shows a schematic illustration of a display screen 2930F that
may be
displayed, for example, in response to the user selecting "Memory" on the
display screen
2930A. As shown, the user may view data collected and/or generated based on a
previous
session. In some embodiments, the user may filter the data based on distance
(e.g., segment
size), time, and/or other parameters. In some embodiments, the information
display on the
display screen 2930F may be a subset of information or display available using
a data
analytics portal display. For example, FIG. 51 is a schematic illustration of
a display screen
2930G that may be displayed, for example, on a display of the mobile device or
on any smart
device, desktop, or browser. The display screen 2930G may be an example of the
data
analytics portal display, may be used post-rowing session or in real-time
during the rowing
session to evaluate analytics. In some embodiments, the display screen 2930G
may be
observed by the user in real-time while the user is rowing if the mobile
device is mounted
within view on the boat of the user.
[164] Some embodiments described herein relate to a computer storage
product with
a non-transitory computer-readable medium (also may be referred to as a non-
transitory
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processor-readable medium) having instructions or computer code thereon for
performing
various computer-implemented operations. The computer-readable medium (or
processor-
readable medium) is non-transitory in the sense that it does not include
transitory propagating
signals per se (e.g., a propagating electromagnetic wave carrying information
on a
transmission medium such as space or a cable). The media and computer code
(also may be
referred to as code) may be those designed and constructed for the specific
purpose or
purposes. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include, but are
not limited
to, magnetic storage media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic
tape; optical
storage media such as Compact Disc/Digital Video Discs (CD/DVDs), Compact Disc-
Read
Only Memories (CD-ROMs), and holographic devices; magneto-optical storage
media such
as optical disks; carrier wave signal processing modules; and hardware devices
that are
specially configured to store and execute program code, such as Application-
Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASIC s), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Read-Only
Memory
(ROM) and Random-Access Memory (RAM) devices. Other embodiments described
herein
relate to a computer program product, which may include, for example, the
instructions
and/or computer code discussed herein.
11651 Some embodiments and/or methods described herein may be
performed by
software (executed on hardware), hardware, or a combination thereof. Hardware
modules
may include, for example, a general-purpose processor, a field programmable
gate array
(FPGA), and/or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Software
modules
(executed on hardware) may be expressed in a variety of software languages
(e.g., computer
code), including C, C++, JavaTM, Ruby, Visual BasicTM, and/or other object-
oriented,
procedural, or other programming language and development tools. Examples of
computer
code include, but are not limited to, micro-code or micro-instructions,
machine instructions,
such as produced by a compiler, code used to produce a web service, and files
containing
higher-level instructions that are executed by a computer using an
interpreter. For example,
embodiments may be implemented using imperative programming languages (e.g.,
C,
Fortran, etc.), functional programming languages (Haskell, Erlang, etc.),
logical
programming languages (e.g., Prolog), object-oriented programming languages
(e.g., Java,
C++, etc.) or other suitable programming languages and/or development tools.
Additional
examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, control signals,
encrypted code,
and compressed code.
11661 Various concepts may be embodied as one or more methods,
of which at least
one example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be
ordered in
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any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts
are performed
in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts
simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative
embodiments. Put
differently, it is to be understood that such features may not necessarily be
limited to a
particular order of execution, but rather, any number of threads, processes,
services, servers,
and/or the like that may execute serially, asynchronously, concurrently, in
parallel,
simultaneously, synchronously, and/or the like in a manner consistent with the
disclosure. As
such, some of these features may be mutually contradictory, in that they may
not be
simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some features are
applicable to one
aspect of the innovations, and inapplicable to others.
11671 In addition, the disclosure may include other innovations
not presently
described. Applimayt reserves all rights in such innovations, including the
right to
embodiment such innovations, file additional applications, continuations,
continuations-in-
part, divisionals, and/or the likc thereof As such, it should be understood
that advantages,
embodiments, examples, functional, features, logical, operational,
organizational, structural,
topological, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered
limitations on the
disclosure as defined by the embodiments or limitations on equivalents to the
embodiments.
Depending on the particular desires and/or characteristics of an individual
and/or enterprise
user, database configuration and/or relational model, data type, data
transmission and/or
network framework, syntax structure, and/or the like, various embodiments of
the technology
disclosed herein may be implemented in a manner that enables a great deal of
flexibility and
customization as described herein.
11681 All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be
understood to control
over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by
reference, and/or
ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
11691 As used herein, in particular embodiments, the terms
"about" or
"approximately" when preceding a numerical value indicates the value plus or
minus a range
of 10%. Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each
intervening value, to
the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise, between
the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening
value in that stated
range is encompassed within the disclosure. That the upper and lower limits of
these smaller
ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed
within the
disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.
Where the stated
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range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of
those included
limits are also included in the disclosure.
11701 The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used herein in
the specification and in
the embodiments, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be
understood to mean "at
least one."
11711 The phrase -and/or," as used herein in the specification
and in the
embodiments, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so
conjoined,
i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively
present in other
cases. Multiple elements listed with "and/or" should be construed in the same
fashion, i.e.,
"one or more" of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be
present other
than the elements specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, whether
related or unrelated
to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a
reference to "A
and/or B", when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as
"comprising" may
refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than
B); in another
embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet
another
embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
11721 As used herein in the specification and in the
embodiments, "or" should be
understood to have the same meaning as "and/or" as defined above. For example,
when
separating items in a list, "or" or "and/or" shall be interpreted as being
inclusive, i.e., the
inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or
list of elements,
and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to
the contrary, such
as "only one of" or "exactly one of" or, when used in the embodiments,
"consisting of," will
refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements.
In general, the
term "or" as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive
alternatives (i.e.
"one or the other but not both") when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such
as "either," "one
of," "only one of," or "exactly one of." "Consisting essentially of," when
used in the
embodiments, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent
law.
11731 As used herein in the specification and in the
embodiments, the phrase "at
least one," in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be
understood to mean at
least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of
elements, but
not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically
listed within the
list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of
elements. This
definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the
elements
specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase "at
least one" refers,
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whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus,
as a non-limiting
example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, 'at least one of A or
B," or, equivalently
"at least one of A and/or B-) may refer, in one embodiment, to at least one,
optionally
including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including
elements other than
B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than
one, B, with no A
present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another
embodiment, to at
least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally
including more
than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
11741 In the embodiments, as well as in the specification
above, all transitional
phrases such as "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing,"
"involving,"
"holding," "composed of," and the like are to be understood to be open-ended,
i.e., to mean
including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of'
and "consisting
essentially of' shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases,
respectively, as set forth in
the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section
2111.03.
11751 While specific embodiments of the present disclosure have
been outlined
above, many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the
art. Accordingly, the embodiments set forth herein are intended to be
illustrative, not limiting.
Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
disclosure
Where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in a
certain order,
those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure would
recognize that the
ordering of certain steps may be modified and such modification are in
accordance with the
variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be
performed concurrently
in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as
described above.
The embodiments have been particularly shown and described, but it will be
understood that
various changes in form and details may be made.
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