System and method for simulating environmental conditions on an exercise device

Abstract

An exercise system includes a simulation system simulating real-world terrain based on environmental and other real-world conditions. Using topographical or other data, an actual location can be simulated. The exercise system may include a speed, incline or other mechanisms that can be adjusted based on changes in simulated slope, and by amounts simulating actual air resistance due to movement, wind, or both. The simulated speed of the person, as well as speed and direction of simulated wind, are used to determine a simulated air speed. Based on the simulated air speed, the simulation system determines the simulated air resistance that would affect the person under real-world conditions, and changes reflective of the simulated air resistance are made to operating parameters of the exercise system. Simulation may occur by causing the user of the exercise system to expend about the same effort as if performing the exercise in the real-world conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a movable exercise element;   an adjustment mechanism for modifying operation of the movable exercise element; and   at least one controller in communication with the adjustment mechanism to vary operating parameters of the movable element based at least in part on a simulated air resistance, the simulated air resistance being dependent on a velocity or direction of a simulated wind.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movable exercise element is a belt of a treadmill. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism modifies an incline of the movable exercise element, and wherein the at least one controller controls incline changes to simulate air resistance. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism modifies a speed of the movable exercise element, and wherein the at least one controller controls speed changes to simulate air resistance. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism modifies a determination of distance travelled based on movement of the movable exercise element, and wherein the at least one controller controls changes to the distance travelled to simulate air resistance. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated air resistance is based on at least one physical characteristic of a user of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one physical characteristic of the user includes any one or more of:
 a height of the user;   a weight of the user;   a frontal area of the user;.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air resistance is determined based on a variable drag coefficient. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an incline mechanism and the at least one controller is in communication with the incline mechanism to vary operating parameters of the movable element based at least in part on slope of simulated terrain. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated air resistance is at least in part dependent on a simulated current altitude relative to an altitude of surrounding terrain. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the simulated air resistance is variable through at least a backing off of a scaling factor as simulated current altitude approaches a peak altitude of surrounding terrain. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated air resistance is at least in part dependent on a wind direction. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein simulated air resistance is determined using a wind velocity obtained from a real-time source. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein simulated air resistance is determined using a wind velocity obtained from a historical information. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein simulated air resistance is determined using an air density value that is variable based on at least a simulated current altitude. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , the exercise apparatus further comprising:
 a simulation system, the simulation system including:
 the at least one controller; 
 a display for displaying images corresponding to real-world terrain being simulated; and 
 a wind simulation system for determining a direction and a velocity of wind being simulated and causing the at least one controller to communicate changes to the adjustment mechanism based on each of wind velocity and direction. 
   
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller communicates to the adjustment mechanism changes to the operating parameters based at least in part on a relation of a power value associated with air resistance relative to a power associated with a change in one or more of incline, speed or distance. 
     
     
         18 . A treadmill, comprising:
 a tread deck;   an endless belt supported by the tread deck;   at least one drive mechanism connected to the tread deck or endless belt; and   one or more controllers in communication with the at least one drive mechanism to change an incline of the tread deck, the one or more controllers further being in communication with the tread deck to change incline, speed or distance parameters associated with use of the endless belt in response to simulated air resistance of real-world characteristics.   
     
     
         19 . The treadmill of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a communication interface configured to access a remote source to obtain at least some information used to simulate air resistance based on real-world characteristics.   
     
     
         20 . A treadmill, comprising:
 an endless belt connected to a tread deck;   a drive mechanism connected to the endless belt to drive rotation of the endless belt relative to the tread deck;   an incline mechanism connected to the tread deck to selectively vary an incline of the endless belt; and   means for adjusting the drive or incline mechanisms by simulating at least air resistance based on one or more particular physical characteristics of a user of the treadmill, a simulated velocity, and a simulated surface wind.