Patent ID: 8192242
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: A61B,A63B,B63H,G01K

Abstract:
1. A system for determining a force on an oar during a rower's rowing stroke in water, comprising: an oar handle; an oar shaft extending from the oar handle; an oar blade affixed to the oar shaft distal from the oar handle; a deflection sensor affixed to a portion of the oar shaft for sensing oar shaft deflection, wherein the deflection sensor generates a deflection signal in response to deflection of the oar shaft resulting from a force acting on the oar blade; a temperature sensor affixed to a portion of the oar shaft proximate the deflection sensor to generate a temperature signal representing a temperature of the portion of the oar shaft; a processing device mounted to the oar, the processing device operatively coupled to the deflection sensor and the temperature sensor to receive the deflection signal and the temperature signal, the processing device programmed to determine a magnitude of the force acting on the oar blade based on the received deflection signal and temperature signal and to generate data representing the magnitude of force; a display device in communication with the processing device to receive from the processing device the data representing the magnitude of force; and a power source electrically connected to and provides power to the deflection sensor, the temperature sensor, and the processing device.