Methods and devices for interactive exercising

Abstract

A method for interactive exercising comprises performing punches to a target portion or throws of throwing implements to a target portion by an athlete and setting the exercising complexity. Embodiments of the method and device for implementing thereof provide for simulating motions of a sparring partner by producing the target portion forced oscillations of various types: periodic, and/or damped, and/or aperiodic, and adjusting the target portion forced oscillation parameters, for displacing and swinging the target portion when any objects approaching the target portion are detected, and for adjusting the time of response to an approaching object.

1 . A method for interactive exercising, comprising:
 performing punches to a target portion or throws of throwing implements to a target portion by an athlete; and   producing forced oscillations of the target portion by setting the target portion in motion via at least one drive; and   determining whether the target portion is hit via at least one sensor,   wherein forced oscillations of the target portion are produced in the form of a sequence of forced oscillations of various kinds: periodic, and/or damped, and/or aperiodic,   the mode of the target portion oscillations being adjusted immediately during an exercising session by varying the oscillation parameters: period, and/or amplitude, and/or damping factor, and/or central position about which the oscillations are produced.   
     
     
         2 . The method for interactive exercising of  claim 1 , wherein:
 variations of said target portion oscillation parameters are done randomly or pseudo-randomly.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target portion oscillation parameters are varied subject to the target portion hit detection results, and more specifically, in response to detecting more frequent target portion hits, the average oscillation period is reduced, and/or average amplitudes are increased, and/or central position variations are increased, while in response to detecting rarer target portion hits, the average oscillation period is increased, and/or average amplitudes are reduced, and or central position variations are reduced, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target portion is forced to oscillate independently in the direction left/right and in the direction back/forth relatively to the trainee. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target portion forced oscillation sequence is generated and their parameters are varied programmably. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target portion forced oscillation sequence is generated and their parameters are varied by a trainee's sparring partner via a remote control. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target portion forced oscillation sequence is generated and their parameters are varied by simulating the trainee's sparring partner trunk motion whose position is detected by at least one sensor. 
     
     
         8 . A method for interactive exercising, comprising:
 performing punches to a target portion or throws of throwing implements to a target portion by an athlete; and   detecting moving objects approaching the target portion by at least one available sensor; and   displacing or swinging the target portion by at least one available drive,   wherein exercising complexity is set by adjusting the system response time via adjustment of the target portion displacement dynamic characteristics, and/or the time delay between detection of an object approaching the target portion and commencement of the target portion displacement.   
     
     
         9 . The method for interactive exercising of  claim 8 , wherein:
 positional relationship of the moving objects and the target portion is determined, said displacement of the target portion being performed such that it fully or partially avoids the moving objects.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, when any objects approaching the target portion are detected, movement path of such objects is estimated, said displacement of the target portion being done towards the estimated movement path of the objects. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said adjustment of the system response time is done randomly or pseudo-randomly immediately during an exercising session. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said adjustment of the system response time includes simulation of the opponent fatigue build-up and/or recuperation by respectively extending and/or reducing the average system response time. 
     
     
         13 . A device for interactive exercising, comprising:
 a base,   a motor mounted on the base,   a movable article mechanically coupled to the motor shaft, swingingly mounted and having, secured at its one side, a target portion to be punched or thrown at,   a movable article swinging angle sensor,   a control unit connected to said swinging angle sensor and to the motor,   a target portion impact sensor connected to said control unit,   a device for exercising mode input, including its complexity setting,   an exercise result display means,   wherein the control unit comprises a movable article swinging angle setting generation module to generate a sequence of periodic, damped or aperiodic signals, configured to adjust the frequency of such signal repetition, signal oscillation period and amplitude, and their damping factor (their damping rate).   
     
     
         14 . The device for interactive exercising of  claim 13 , wherein the control unit further includes a PID controller connected to an output of the movable article swinging angle setting generation module and having its feedback input connected to the target portion position sensing means. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the device control unit further includes a module for adjusting the device's dynamic characteristics, including its bandwidth, and/or control circuit response time, and/or acceleration range, and/or movable article rotational motion speed. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein it further includes a target portion approaching object detector, connected to an additional input at the control unit, the control unit being configured such as to estimate the positional relationship between said objects and the target portion and to generate the movable article swinging angle setting signals so as to provide for the target portion to fully or partially avoid being hit by the detected moving objects by varying the system response time. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein it further includes a target portion approaching object detector connected to an additional input at the control unit, the control unit being configured such as to estimate said objects' movement path with respect to the target portion and to generate the movable article swinging angle setting signals such as to provide for the target portion displacement towards the objects' estimated path. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein it is further configured so as to provide for the target portion vertical displacement by configuring the movable article from two portions longitudinally displaceable with respect to each other, one portion of the movable article being coupled to the base and the other portion of the movable article having the target portion disposed on it, an additional motor being disposed on the base and coupled, via a mechanical transmission, to the movable article portion on which the target portion is secured, the device control unit further including a module for generating signals to set the amount of displacement of the movable article's two portions with respect to each other, and the control unit power module including an additional output connected to said additional motor. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein it further includes a discrete or analogous input device with an output connected to an additional input of the control unit, the device control unit providing for movable article swinging angle setting signal generation in function of the input device control member position. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein it further includes a means for detecting the trainee's sparring partner position or his/her trunk swings, e.g. a video camera with appropriate hardware and software, the control unit being configured such as to provide movable article swinging angle setting signal generation in function of the trainee's sparring partner position or his/her trunk swings. 
     
     
         21 . A device for interactive exercising, comprising:
 a fixedly mounted first motor,   a movable base mechanically coupled to the first motor shaft,   a second motor mounted on the movable base,   a movable article mechanically coupled to the second motor shaft, swingingly mounted and having, secured at its one side, a target portion to be punched or thrown at,   a target portion position sensing means,   a control unit connected to the target portion position sensing means, and to both the first and the second motors,   wherein said movable base is disposed on a horizontal or slant axle, each of the mechanical coupling between the movable base and the first motor shaft and mechanical coupling between the movable article and the second motor shaft is provided either directly, or via a mechanical transmission.   
     
     
         22 . The device for interactive exercising of  claim 21 , wherein the device further has the following connected to the control unit:
 an impact sensor disposed on the target portion or movable article,   a device for exercising mode input, including its complexity setting,   an exercise result display means.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein it is further configured so as to provide for the target portion vertical displacement by configuring the movable article from two portions longitudinally displaceable with respect to each other, one portion of the movable article being coupled to the movable base and the other portion of the movable article having the target portion disposed on it, an additional motor being disposed on the movable base and having its shaft coupled, via a mechanical transmission, to the movable article portion on which the target portion is secured, and the control unit having a target portion vertical displacement control module with an outlet for connecting an additional motor. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein it further includes a target portion approaching object detector connected to the control unit, the control unit being configured such as to estimate the positional relationship between said objects and the target portion and to control the target portion motion so as to provide for the target portion to fully or partially avoid being hit by the detected moving objects. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein it further includes a target portion approaching object detector connected to the control unit, the control unit being configured such as to determine the objects' velocity vector direction and to classify the direction as either direct or lateral with respect to the target portion's current position, the target portion being displaced preferably backwards with the respect to the trainee, where the direction is determined to be lateral. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein it further includes a target portion approaching object detector connected to the control unit, the control unit being configured such as to estimate said objects' movement path with respect to the target portion and to move the target portion so as to provide for the target portion displacement towards the objects' estimated path. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein it further includes a discrete or analogous input device connected to the control unit, the device control unit being configured such as to generate the first and second motor control signals so as to provide for the target portion displacement in function of the input device control member position. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein it further includes a means connected to the control unit for detecting the trainee's sparring partner trunk swings or his/her position, the control unit being configured such as to generate the first and second motor control signals so as to provide for the target portion displacement in function of the trainee's sparring partner trunk swings and/or his/her position.