Resistance training machine and methods of controlling the same

Abstract

A resistance training machine, a method of providing custom workouts, and a method of providing feedback on user form and user balance are disclosed. Provided herein are Methods and Systems For Controlling Resistance Training Machine that provides varying force and velocity levels for isokinetic and isotonic exercises, respectively, for a user.

1 . A method For Controlling Resistance Training Machine, comprising the steps:
 a. controlling a resistance training machine to measure and communicate form feedback and balance feedback during some or all exercises performed on the resistance training machine by a drive system module, wherein the resistance training machine comprises a platform or base with a plurality of load cells, a motor and a sensor operably coupled to cables, the cables operably coupled to a pulley system, a controller operatively coupled to the sensor, the plurality of load cells, the motor, and human machine interface;   b. providing resistance supplied by the motors to perform an isokinetic exercise or an isotonic exercise by receiving position data as a function of time from the motor, and a main module is configured to receive current, torque, and/or force data as a function of time from the motor, the main module receives force data, weight data, force distribution data and/or weight distribution from the plurality of load cells; and   c. operably coupling the main module with a plurality of modules including a Bluetooth Low Energy communication module, a Training program module, the drive system module, a sensor and switch monitor module, an actuator control module, a Phidget Bridge communication module that is a load cell interface which amplifies the signals detected to provide clear digital values, a Logging Module, and an MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) client that is a protocol to send and receive messages;   d. reading out a plurality of settings by the main module; storing a calibration data on a system startup; distributing the sensors data to the main module and the BLE communication module by the main module; managing the haptic or button presses received from a plurality of BLE enabled buttons by the main module; managing the information received from Phidget Bridge communication module by the main module; calling the plurality of settings from main module upon request by the main module; operating a plurality of states including an Initialize state, a Calibration state, a Workout state, a Stop state, an Idle state, a Pull in Slack state, a tracking motor current state, and a hall sensor check state from the sensor or the plurality of load cells.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the plurality of modules communicating with the Logging Module to log all the events from the plurality of modules to a terminal and filed to the terminal, logging and providing training history on request; and the MQTT client is operable and communicable with the main module to get information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a. Operating the main module with the BLE communication module, the MQTT client, and controlling the BLE communication module, the MQTT client via a wireless interface;   b. Operating the main module with the Training program module and the Phidget Bridge communication module;   c. Operating the main module that communicates with a cloud server; and   d. Operating the main module with the drive system module and the sensor and switch monitor module.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the initialize state is configured to ramp up to or ramp down from a given velocity, during an initial or ending phase of the isokinetic exercise; or the motor is configured to ramp up to or ramp down from a given force, torque, or current, during an initial or ending phase of the isotonic exercise; configuring the motor to implement independent S-curve smoothing or configuring the motor to operate at constant accelerations, operate within minimum and/or maximum velocities, operate within minimum and/or maximum accelerations, and kinematic controls to improve a perceived smoothness and overall safety for the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the Calibration state is calibrating one or more exercises, each having a relative beginning position and a relative end position; selecting the relative beginning position by extending or retracting the cables to a first position, without resistance, and allows for the holding the first position for 2-5 seconds by the main module; selecting the relative end position by extending or retracting one or both cables to a second position, without resistance, by the main module; and allowing for the holding the second position for 2-5 seconds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the workout state selects an exercise from among the one or more calibrated exercises; the plurality of cables include a left cable and a right cable; allowing a user to select to perform the exercise using the left cable only, the right cable only, or using both the left and right cables; selecting a number of repetitions for the exercise; selecting an exercise mode, an isokinetic mode or an isotonic mode if an isokinetic mode is selected, then selecting a constant velocity to be outputted by the resistance training machine; if an isotonic mode is selected, then selecting a constant force to be outputted by the resistance training machine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the Stop state is the main module activates the sensor and switch module to stop the cables and the motors. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the Pull in Slack state operates the main module to retract the cables when no longer in use; operating the motor to retract the cables to the docking position at a minimum force or minimum velocity if/when certain conditions are met. 
     
     
         9 . A computer program product for a Resistance Training Machine, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by a computer having a processor for causing the processor to perform operations of:
 a. controlling the resistance training machine to measure and communicate form feedback and balance feedback during some or all exercises performed on the resistance training machine, wherein the resistance training machine comprises a platform or base with a plurality of load cells, a motor and a sensor operably coupled to cables, the cables operably coupled to a pulley system, a controller operatively coupled to the sensor, the plurality of load cells, the motor, and human machine interface (HMI);   b. providing resistance supplied by the motor to perform an isokinetic exercise or an isotonic exercise by receiving position data as a function of time from the motor, and a main module receive current, torque, and/or force data as a function of time from the motor, the main module receives force data, weight data, force distribution data and/or weight distribution from the load cells; and   c. operably coupling a main module with a plurality of modules including an UI module, a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication module, a Training program module, a drive system module, a sensor and switch monitor module, a statistics module, a LED string control module operably coupled to an LED, a Phidget Bridge communication module that is a load cell interface which amplifies the signals detected to provide clear digital values, an audio control module, a Logging Module, and an MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) client that is a protocol to send and receive messages;   d. reading out a plurality of settings by the main module; storing a calibration data on a system startup; distributing the sensors data to the main module and the BLE communication module by the main module; managing the haptic or button presses received from a plurality of BLE enabled buttons by the main module; managing the information received from Phidget Bridge communication module by the main module; calling the plurality of settings from main module upon request by the main module; operating a plurality of states including an Initialize state, a Calibration state, a Workout state, a Stop state, an Idle state, a Pull in Slack state, a tracking motor current state, and a hall sensor check state from the sensor or the plurality of load cells.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , further comprising the plurality of modules communicating with the Logging Module to log all the events from all modules to a terminal and filed in the terminal, logging and providing training history on request; and the MQTT client is operable and communicable with the main module to get information. 
     
     
         11 . A computer program product for a Resistance Training Machine, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by a computer having a processor for causing the processor to perform operations of:
 a. Operating a main module with an UI module, a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication module, a MQTT client, and an audio control module, and controlling the UI module, BLE communication module, MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) client that is a protocol to send and receive messages, and the audio control module via a wireless interface;   b. Operating the main module with a Training program module and a Phidget Bridge communication module that is a load cell interface which amplifies the signals detected to provide clear digital values;   c. Operating the main module a Cloud communication module that communicates with a cloud server; and   d. Operating the main module with a drive system module, a sensor and switch monitor module, a statistics module, a LED string control module operably coupled to an LED;   e. reading out a plurality of settings by the main module; storing a calibration data on the system startup; distributing the sensors data to the UI module and the BLE communication module by the main module; managing the haptic or button presses received from a plurality of BLE enabled buttons by the main module; managing the information received from Phidget Bridge communication module by the main module; calling the plurality of settings from Audio control module upon request by the main module; operating a plurality of states including an Initialize state, a Calibration state, a Workout state, a Stop state, an Idle state, a Pull in Slack state, a tracking motor current state, and a hall sensor check state.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the initialize state is configured to ramp up to or ramp down from a given velocity, during an initial or ending phase of an isokinetic exercise; or a motor configured to ramp up to or ramp down from a given force, torque, or current, during an initial or ending phase of an isotonic exercise; configuring the motor to implement independent S-curve smoothing or configuring the motor to operate at constant accelerations, operate within minimum and/or maximum velocities, operate within minimum and/or maximum accelerations, and kinematic controls to improve a perceived smoothness and overall safety for the user. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the Calibration state is calibrating one or more exercises, wherein each exercise having a relative beginning position and a relative end position; selecting the relative beginning position by extending or retracting the cables to a first position, without resistance, and allows for the holding the first position for 2-5 seconds by the main module; selecting the relative end position by extending or retracting one or both cables to a second position, without resistance, by the main module; and allowing for the holding the second position for 2-5 seconds. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the workout state selects an exercise from among the one or more calibrated exercises; the cables comprising a left cable and a right cable; allowing the user to select to perform the exercise using the left cable only, the right cable only, or using both the left and right cables; selecting a number of repetitions for the exercise; selecting an exercise mode, an isokinetic mode or an isotonic mode if an isokinetic mode is selected, then selecting a constant velocity to be outputted by the resistance training machine; if an isotonic mode is selected, then selecting a constant force to be outputted by the machine. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the Stop state is the main module activates the sensor and switch module to stop the cables and the motor. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the Pull in Slack state operates the main module to retract the left or right cables when no longer in use; operating the motor to retract the cable to the docking position at a minimum force or minimum velocity if/when certain conditions are met.