The present invention relates to a rowing telemetries system for measuring the performance of a rower. The invention further relates to an oar suitable for use with the system, and to a method of measuring the performance of a rower. Rowing is a popular pastime and competitive sport which involves the propulsion of a boat across a body of water using oars. Boat races are common, and in many cases, the progress of the boat involves the interaction of numerous rowers in synchronisation to achieve maximum speed. Telemetries are becoming increasingly utilised in order to monitor the performance of the rowers, in particular those who are performing at elite level.

Given the need for a rowing crew to operate as a coherent unit, the primary goal of telemetries has been to monitor the performance of the crew as a whole, and therefore the boats are equipped with a wide variety of telemetric equipment. Sensors can then be incorporated into the boat in order to provide the full view of the crew's performance. Traditionally, sensors have fallen into one of two categories; oar sensors, which are coupled to oars of the boat, and hull sensors, which are affixed to the hull of the boat. The sensors are fully integrated into the boat to allow all information to be compiled together.

The issue with such rowing telemetric systems is that the individual rower cannot access individual information which pertains to their own performance, since the relevant data is intrinsically connected to the overall performance of the crew, and the data itself remains stored with the equipment associated with the boat.

Not only is such a rowing telemetric system very expensive to install, and therefore generally only available to well-funded athletes, but it also deprives the individual rower of access to data which might be relevant to their own individual performance.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cost-effective means of allowing an individual rower to take control of their own data in order to overcome the above-mentioned problems. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a rowing telemetries system for measuring the performance of a rower, the system comprising: an oar sensor arranged to measure rowing data relating to an oar with which the oar sensor is coupled; a transmitter being releasably engagable with the oar sensor and arranged to receive and transmit the rowing data from the oar sensor; and a display unit which is remote from the oar sensor, the display unit including a receiver which is communicable with the transmitter.

By providing an oar sensor and transmitter which are releasably engagable with one another, it therefore becomes possible to separate the functionality of the two devices. Traditional rowing telemetries systems are expensive to install and maintain, since the complete unit is installed in constant engagement with the oar. The proximity to the oar of existing systems also makes updating the system with software and/or hardware updates physically challenging.

Furthermore, since existing systems are physically coupled to the boat and oar, the rowing data cannot be removed from the boat without bringing a computing device to the boat. By providing a transmitter which can be physically removed from the boat, the dissemination of data is beneficially simplified, and also allows the individual rower a greater control over their own personal rowing data.

Optionally, the oar sensor may include one or more of: an accelerometer; a gyrometer; and/or a positional sensor.

In order to measure as much relevant data as possible relating to the mechanics of the oar as it is used, various different sensors could beneficially be utilised. An accelerometer could be used to measure the speed of the oar through the water, whereas a gyrometer may measure the discrepancy of the oar from a predetermined optimum angle. A positional sensor may measure a relative distance travelled by the oar during a stroke, or could alternatively be used as a tracking means for the boat globally.

In one embodiment, the oar sensor may be releasably engagable with the oar to which it is coupled. Alternatively, the oar sensor may be permanently engaged with the oar to which it is coupled; in which case, it may be integrally formed with the oar. The preferred embodiment would be an oar sensor which is permanently attached to an oar, thereby ensuring consistent measurements can be taken across different rowing sessions for different users.

The said rowing data is specific to a single user of the rowing telemetries system. The said rowing data may be Stroke-specific rowing data, and further comprising rowing data comparison means, wherein other user-specific rowing data is compared to the Stroke-specific rowing data via the rowing data comparison means.

By associating rowing data with an individual, rather than a rowing crew, the rower has a greater degree of control over the ownership of their own data, in addition to being able to more readily improve their own performance through analysis of personal data instead of team data. The provision of Stroke-specific data allows any given rower in a rowing crew to have their oar stroke analysed relative to the Stroke position, typically the most important position in the boat for fluid motion across the water. By improving the synchronisation of the oar strokes of rowers with the Stroke, a greater speed across the water can be provided.

Preferably, the transmitter may be portable relative to the oar and/or a boat with which the oar is associated. Furthermore a plurality of different portable said transmitters may be provided, each said transmitter being associated with a single user and separately engagable with the in use oar sensor. The transmitter may include an on-board memory device arranged to store at least the said rowing data from the oar sensor, and may additionally or alternatively include a processor arranged to process at least the said rowing data from the oar sensor.

The great advantage of portable, personal transmitters means that a single boat, incorporating oar sensors, can be used by a wide variety of different rowers, each of whom can then use the boat whilst retaining their own personal data on the portable transmitter.

The transmitter may be in releasable wired engagement with the in use oar sensor, and may further include a wireless communications element. There may also be provided a physical communication means to permit direct communication with a computing device.

The coupling of the transmitter and oar sensor can be most readily achieved by utilising a direct wired connection between the two, which can be released at will. This ensures that the coupling is quick and effective, allowing users to readily engage the rowing telemetries system prior to a rowing session.

The display unit may be one or more of: a portable computing device; and/or a wearable device.

Ideally, as the transmitter is formed as a portable unit which can be associated with the rower rather than the boat, it is beneficial to also provide a display unit which meets the same criteria. This advantageously allows the rower to retain control of the display and/or analysis of their own data.

In one embodiment, the display unit may be associated with a data server arranged to host a rowing telemetries display website.

A rowing telemetries display website may advantageously allow users to interact with the rowing data which is not, at present, possible. Multiple rowers may be able to compare performances, offer commentary and advice, and witness performance improvements over time via such a website.

Optionally, the system may further comprise an imaging device arranged to capture rowing image data. The provision of an imaging device, such as a video camera, allows for visual data relating to a rower's performance to be captured. This can provide valuable biomechanical information related to a rower's body positioning, as well as providing aesthetically pleasing images from a rowing session.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an oar for use as part of a rowing telemetries system, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the oar comprising: a shaft; a blade attached to a first end of the shaft; a handle attached to an opposing second end of the shaft; and an oar sensor arranged to measure rowing data associated with the oar, the oar sensor being permanently attached to oar.

Preferably, the oar sensor may be attached to the shaft of the oar at or adjacent to the handle.

Providing a smart oar, in which the oar sensor is already incorporated, but with no physically engaged transmitter therein, advantageously allows an existing boat to be utilised with the rowing telemetries system. A plurality of different rowers can bring their own transmitter to the boat separately, without requiring a change of oar in the process.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of measuring the performance of a rower in a boat having at least one oar, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing a rowing telemetries system, preferably in accordance with the third aspect of the invention; b] engaging the oar sensor with a said oar of the boat; and c] transmitting a measured performance of the rower by the oar sensor, via the transmitter, to the display unit for analysis and/or display. The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a rowing telemetries system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a side representation of a rower in a rowing boat utilising the rowing telemetries system of Figure 1.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a rowing telemetries system, indicated globally as 10, which can be used to monitor the performance of a rower 12, such as that illustrated in the boat 14 shown in Figure 2.

The rowing telemetries system 10 comprises an oar sensor 16 which is coupled to an oar 18, a transmitter 20 which is releasably engagable with the oar sensor 16, and a display unit 22 which is in communication, preferably wireless, with the transmitter 20.

The oar sensor 16 is, in the depicted embodiment, physically coupled to a shaft 24 of the oar 18, using, for instance, an adhesive or attachment element, and is ideally attached in a permanent manner. Preferably, to distance the oar sensor 16 from the water in use, which could have a detrimental effect upon the operative capability thereof, the oar sensor 16 is positioned on the shaft 24 of the oar 18 which is closer to a handle 26 than a blade 28 of the oar 18. Ideally, this will also be closer to the handle 26 than a collar and sleeve of the oar 18.

The oar sensor 16 is designed for rowing telemetries, and is therefore arranged to obtain information pertinent to the rower 12 using the oar 18. This may comprise monitoring of stroke form, stroke speed, stroke efficiency, catch duration, catch efficiency, and/or the check factor of the boat 14, and furthermore could comprise a biometric sensor to monitor specific data relating to the rower 12.

To monitor such criteria, the oar sensor 16 may include any or all of: an accelerometer, capable of measuring an acceleration of the oar 18 both in and out of the water; a gyrometer, capable of measuring oar 18 orientation; and/or a positional sensor such as a satellite tracking device, capable of measuring global or relative position of the oar 18.

Whilst the oar sensor 16 has been hereto described as being physically attached to the oar 18 to which it is taking measurements, it will be appreciated that the oar sensor 16 could in fact be integrally formed with the oar 18, thereby forming a smart oar.

The transmitter 20 is formed as a discrete unit which can communicate with the oar sensor 16 preferably via a wired connection 30 which can be physically coupled to the oar sensor 18 in use. The transmitter 20 includes a wireless communication means so as to be able to transmit any rowing data transferred from the oar sensor 16 to an external device 32. The external device 32 has a receiver arranged to receive signals which are transmitted by the transmitter 20. In order to store any rowing data recorded by the oar sensor 16, the transmitter 20 may have an on-board memory device arranged to store at least the said rowing data from the oar sensor 16, and may also include a processor which permits some preliminary analysis of the said rowing data prior to transmission.

Since the transmitter 20 can be formed so as to be releasably engagable with the oar sensor 16, by removal of the wired connection 30 from engagement with a corresponding port 34 of the oar sensor 16, the transmitter 20 can be readily formed so as to be portable, rather than being fixedly mounted to the boat 14.

The external device 32 includes the display unit 22 which allows the rowing data to be visualised and/or processed for analysis by the rower 12 or a coach. As shown in Figure 2, the display unit 22 could be mounted in the boat 14 to provide the rower 12 with real-time feedback with regards to their performance whilst on the water.

The external device 32 is here illustrated as a tablet computer, having a display screen acting as the display unit 22. However, it will be appreciated that any display unit capable of displaying the rowing data could be used, including but not limited to: a desktop computer; a laptop computer; and/or a mobile communications device, such as a smartphone. In particular, it may be advantageous to provide the external device 32 as a wearable device, such as a watch, which would allow the rower 12 to transport their display unit 22 about their person, even whilst rowing. Additionally, there may be an imaging device associated with the display unit 22, such as a camera 34, which is configured to record photographic or video data during a rowing session. This allows visual rowing data to be captured and associated with other measured rowing data, and may be used, for instance, to analyse biomechanical data associated with the rower. It will be appreciated that the imaging device need not be directly engaged with the display device 22, and may be a distinct unit, or be coupled to one of the other components of the rowing telemetries system 10.

In use, the oar sensor 16 is coupled to the oar 18, and is able to take measurements relating to the performance of the rower 12 as the oar 18 is commandeered. The transmitter 20 is attached to oar sensor 16, preferably via the wired connection 30, to allow rowing data to be transferred from the oar sensor 16 to the transmitter 20. The transmitter 20 is then able to transmit the rowing data to the display unit 22, preferably wirelessly, where the rowing data can be readily analysed and/or displayed.

Should there be any connectivity issues between the transmitter 20 and the display unit 22, the provision of an on-board memory device and/or processor with the transmitter 20 will allow data to be recorded thereon. This advantageously allows the rower 12 themselves to retain ownership of their rowing data, rather than having it associated with the boat 14.

Furthermore, by separating the transmitter 20 from the oar sensor 16, the maintenance of the system 10 as a whole is simplified. In the event of a fault, only one or other of the transmitter 20 or oar sensor 16 need be repaired or replaced. Similarly, where software updates may be required in order to upgrade the system 10, then these can be beneficially be installed via the portable transmitter 20, rather than directly with the oar 18, as is presently the case. Indeed, the modularisation of the whole rowing telemetries system 10 advantageously simplifies hardware upgrades; for example, where a specific transmitter 20 needs to be upgraded, the entire rowing telematics system 10 need not be dismantled from the boat 14. In such a scenario, only the transmitter 20 need be replaced. The modularisation also serves to reduce the overall cost of the rowing telematics system 10, since each of the components need not be combined into a single complex device.

One of the main advantages of the separation of the transmitter 20 and the oar sensor 16 is that a plurality of transmitters 20 can be provided, each being separately engagable with the oar sensor 16. This allows a plurality of different rowers 12 to own their own transmitter 20, thus reducing the strain on the overall system 10; a single rower 12 can insert their own personal transmitter 20, which is capable of then retaining rowing data solely relating to that particular rower 12.

Whilst the transmitter 20 has thus far been described as having a wireless transmitter which is communicable with a display unit 22, it will be appreciated that the transmitter 20 could additionally or alternatively be provided with a physical communication means, such as a wired or direct coupling, to allow direct connection with a display unit 22, for example, by providing a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector. This may be more appropriate where the analysis of the rowing data is to take place subsequent to the rowing session.

The data collected by the oar sensor 16 has hereto been described as rowing data. It will be appreciated that this collective term could be used to describe any data collected during the rowing process. For example, whilst the mechanics of the oar 18 are likely to be the primary data captured, other characteristics, such as biometric rowing data relating to the rower 12 could also be measured by the rowing telemetries system 10. Whilst the rowing telemetries system 10 has thus far been described as having a display unit 22 which is readily portable, such as a smartphone or tablet computer, it is possible that the transmitter 20 could be arranged to directly wirelessly connect with a computer network. In such a scenario, the rowing data could be directly uploaded to a data server, and the rowing data could be displayed and/or analysed via an online display means, for instance, via a compatible website. Such a data server may be arranged to record historic data associated with a particular rower, set of rowers, or a given crew.

The use of a web-based data display solution allows users to review their own and other rowers' performances over time, by comparison of the historical data with more recent rowing data. Information relating to particular rowers' performances may be shared, and may also, for example, be commented upon by other users of the website.

One feature which may be of interest is the comparison of rowing data between individual rowers 12. This may provide competitive features of the rowing telemetries system 10, allowing rowers 12 to see who has recorded the best time for a given session, for instance. However, for a rowing crew, it may be beneficial to permit the rowers 12 in the boat 14 to attempt to mimic the performance of the rower in the Stroke position, that is, the rower 12 closest to the stern of the boat 14. Synchronisation of the rowers 12 in a boat 14 to the Stroke is critical to achieving a fluid motion of the boat 14 across the water. The present rowing telemetries system 10 allows such information to be recorded for an individual rower 12 relative to the Stroke, which has previously not been achievable due to the emphasis on boat-based telemetries. User-specific rowing data can be compared to the Stroke-specific rowing data using a rowing data comparison means, which would typically be a processor associated with the external device 32, for example, having a specific rowing-data-comparison circuit. This could, however, be performed by a cloud- or network-based computing device or system. The rowing data comparison means may be able to provide individual rowers 12 with a score which describes each stroke, and their overall synchronisation with the Stroke position. This may involve calculation of the start and end points of a stroke relative to the Stroke position, and/or a calculation of the relative forces imparted by the rower 12 over time, relative to the Stroke position. This could preferably be performed in real-time and display on the display unit 22, thereby allowing a cox or coach to review the performance of the rowers 12 relative to the Stroke.

It is therefore possible to provide a rowing telemetries system which is capable of measuring a rowing performance of a rower. The system includes an oar sensor which can be affixed to an oar of a rowing boat, and a transmitter which is releasably engagable with the oar sensor so as to at least receive and transmit the rowing data measured by the oar sensor. The transmitter is then able to transmit the rowing data to an external display unit, wherein the rowing data can be processed, analysed and/or displayed. By providing a distinct, portable transmitter which is separate to the oar sensor, the system can be more readily maintained, be manufactured in a more cost-effective manner, and also permits a user to retain ownership of their own personal rowing data.

The words 'comprises/comprising' and the words 'having/including' when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention herein described and defined.