Simulation technology for use with a stationary bicycle training system
The present invention relates, in various embodiments, to improved simulation technology for use with a stationary training system. In some embodiments, this includes use of sensors, for example, wearable sensors, to control simulation parameters (such as display and/or performance parameters). For example, in some embodiments, a body worn sensor, such as an accelerometer and/or gyroscope, is used thereby to infer body position attributes of a user and, in response, configure one or more simulation parameters. These may include, for example, display parameters (for example, whether a simulated avatar is seated or standing) and/or performance parameters (for example, simulated wind resistance).
1. A method for controlling a simulation system, wherein the simulation system includes:
an input configured to receive data representative of user pedaling interaction with a bicycle training system;
one or more further inputs which receive data collected by further sensors;
a processing module configured to process the data received via the input and the one or more further inputs thereby to define simulation parameters, including: (i) performance parameters for simulated bicycle riding; and (ii) display parameters for a graphical interface which is configured to cause rendering of visual simulation data for the simulated bicycle riding;
the method including:
(i) identifying, in the data collected by the further sensors, data derived from a body-worn motion sensor device;
(ii) processing the data derived from the body-worn motion sensor device thereby to define data representative of body position attributes; and
(iii) operating the processing module to set one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the data representative of the body position attributes;
wherein the step of operating the processing module to set the one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the data representative of the body position attributes includes: setting a wind resistance parameter responsive to the body position attributes.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the wind resistance parameter responsive to the body position attributes includes identifying whether the body position attributes are representative of a standing pedaling motion or a seated pedaling motion.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the wind resistance parameter responsive to the body position attributes includes identifying the body position attributes representative of a transition between a seated position and a standing position, thereby to determine a current pedaling state of seated or standing.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the wind resistance parameter responsive to the body position attributes includes identifying via the body position attributes a torso position.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the wind resistance parameter responsive to the body position attributes includes:
(i) identifying whether the body position attributes are representative of a standing pedaling motion or a seated pedaling motion; and
(ii) identifying via the body position attributes a torso position.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to setting a wind resistance parameter responsive to the body position attributes, a control signal is defined to cause adjustment of a pedaling resistance setting in the bicycle training system.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of operating the processing module to set the one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the data representative of the body position attributes includes: configuring a visual simulation body position parameter on those body position attributes, such that the wind resistance parameter and the visual simulation body position parameter are each representative of whether a user is in a standing position or a seated position.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of operating the processing module to set the one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the data representative of the body position attributes includes:
(i) determining body position attributes representative of sideways lean of a user; and
(ii) setting one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the body position attributes representative of the sideways lean of the user.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein setting the one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the body position attributes representative of the sideways lean of the user includes configuring a visual simulation body position parameter to display corresponding sideways lean for a virtual avatar.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the simulation system collects data representative of bicycle tilt, and wherein configuring the visual simulation body position parameter to display the corresponding sideways lean for the virtual avatar is additionally responsive to the data representative of the bicycle tilt.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein setting the one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the body position attributes representative of the sideways lean of the user includes configuring a virtual steering parameter based on the sideways lean of the user.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the simulation system collects data representative of the bicycle tilt, and wherein configuring the virtual steering parameter is additionally responsive to the data representative of the bicycle tilt.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of operating the processing module to set the one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the data representative of the body position attributes includes: defining display parameters for a graphical interface based on identified torso rotation of the user.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein defining display parameters for the graphical interface based on the identified torso rotation of the user controls direction in a virtual environment of a first person view, thereby to enable simulated sideways view directional control.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the processing module to set the one or more of the simulation parameters in response to the data representative of the body position attributes includes providing a control signal to the bicycle training system thereby to control one or more parameters of the bicycle training system.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body-worn motion sensor device is provided via a torso-worn device.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the torso-worn device includes a body function monitor.