Exercise device
An exercise device is described which includes a platform having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; first and second wheels, wherein the first wheel is positioned proximate the first end and the second wheel is positioned proximate the second end and the first and second wheels are configured to roll across a surface as the exercise device is displaced along the surface; a first motor configured to apply a first torque to the first wheel where the magnitude of the first torque is related to the distance of the exercise device from a zero position and the direction of the first torque urges movement of the exercise device toward the zero position. Versions are also described with more wheels and more motors.
1. An exercise device comprising:
a platform having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
first and second wheels, wherein the first wheel is positioned proximate the first end and the second wheel is positioned proximate the second end and the first and second wheels are configured to roll across a surface as the exercise device is displaced along the surface;
a first motor is configured to apply a first torque to the first wheel where the magnitude of the first torque is related to the distance of the exercise device from a zero position and a direction of the first torque urges the exercise device toward the zero position.
2. The exercise device of claim 1 , further comprising a second motor configured to apply a second torque to the second wheel where a magnitude of the second torque is related to the distance of the exercise device from the zero position and the direction of the second torque urges movement of the exercise device toward the zero position.
3. The exercise device of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizing wheel system comprising one or more stabilizing wheels, wherein the one or more stabilizing wheels are positioned and configured to roll across the surface and to limit rotation of the platform in relation to the first and second wheel.
4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the surface comprises a continuous horizontal surface extending from the first wheel to the second wheel.
5. The exercise device of claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a first track and a second track where the first wheel rolls on the first track and the second track rolls on the second track.
6. The exercise device of claim 3 , wherein there are two stabilizing wheels.
7. The exercise device of claim 3 , wherein the first motor is configured to apply a second torque to the second wheel, where the magnitude of the second torque is related to the distance of the exercise device from the zero position and a direction of the second torque urges movement of the exercise device toward the zero position.
8. The exercise device of claim 2 wherein the magnitude of the first torque follows a first pattern as the distance from the zero point increases and the magnitude of the second torque follows a second pattern as the distance from the zero point decreases, where the first and the second pattern are independently selected from:
a linear pattern with constant magnitude,
a linear pattern with increasing magnitude with increasing distance from the zero position,
a linear pattern with decreasing magnitude with increasing distance from the zero position,
a variable pattern with increasing magnitude with increasing distance from the zero position,
a variable pattern with decreasing magnitude with increasing distance from the zero position,
a variable pattern with decreasing magnitude with increasing distance from the zero position,
a variable pattern with increasing then decreasing magnitude with increasing distance from zero,
a variable pattern with decreasing then increasing magnitude with increasing distance from zero, and
combinations thereof.
9. The exercise device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern is a linear curve with constant magnitude.
10. The exercise device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern has increasing magnitude with increasing distance from the zero position.
11. The exercise device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern has decreasing magnitude with increasing distance from the zero position.
12. The exercise device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern is a linear curve with increasing magnitude with increasing distance from the zero position.
13. The exercise device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern has increasing then decreasing magnitude with increasing distance from zero.
14. The exercise device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern has decreasing then increasing magnitude with increasing distance from zero.
15. The exercise device of claim 8 , wherein the first pattern is different from the second pattern.
16. A method of operating the exercise device of claim 2 comprising:
the first or second motor applying a first or second torque to the first or second wheel, respectively as the exercise device is pushed across the surface away from the zero position, where the first or second torque opposes the motion of the exercise device; and
the first or second motor applying a first or second torque to the first or second wheel, respectively as the exercise device is pushed across the surface toward the zero position, where the first or second anti-return force opposes the motion of the exercise device.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein, the first or second torque is changed to compensate for yaw of the exercise device.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first or second torque is changed to compensate for tipping of the platform in relation to the first or second wheel.
19. The method of operating the exercise device of claim 8 , wherein the first or second pattern is selected at the start of an exercise session.
20. The method of operating the exercise device of claim 16 , wherein the first or second torque is changed when the acceleration of the exercise device away from or toward the zero position exceeds a preset value.
21. An exercise system comprising:
the exercise device of claim 1 ; and
a user interface configured to provide an indication of an exercise parameter achieved or an exercise deviation performed to a user of the exercise device.
22. The exercise system of claim 21 , wherein the user interface provides a haptic indication to the user.
23. The exercise system of claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises a visual display in the exercise device.
24. The exercise system of claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises a visual display external to the exercise device.
25. The exercise system of claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises an audio signal.
26. The exercise system of claim 21 , wherein the indication of an exercise parameter achieved comprises a display of a representation of the user's position operating the exercise device and a standard position of operation of the exercise device.
27. The exercise system of claim 21 , wherein the indication of an exercise parameter achieved comprises an indication of a degree of success in achieving a standard movement form during operation of the exercise device.
28. An exercise device comprising:
a platform having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
first and second wheels, wherein the first wheel is positioned proximate the first end and the second wheel is positioned proximate the second end and the first and second wheels are configured to roll across a surface as the exercise device is displaced along the surface;
the first wheel applies a force that resists movement of the exercise device when the exercise device is moved from a zero position where a magnitude of the force is related to the distance of the exercise device from the zero position and a direction of the force urges the device toward the zero position.