A system for analysis of the performance in use of a sliding board includes a database storing baseline performance; a sensor sensitive to the deformations of said sliding board; and a monitoring body. The monitoring body determines the performance in use based on measurements from the sensor; and compares the performance in use with the baseline performance. The sensor is secured to the sliding board and has at least one piezoelectric element secured to the sliding board and configured to generate electric energy during the deformations of the sliding board; and an electronic processing circuit, powered exclusively by the electric energy generated by the at least one piezoelectric element.

A method is disclosed for foot sensors to be used to determine at least two characteristics of a subject's activity by using a combination of sensors for force and foot orientation/motion/position. A wearable footwear ecosystem is comprised of the subject's footwear, sensor-enabled insoles or insertable devices, in- or on-footwear electronics that is hard wired to the sensors and may contain additional sensors such as accelerometers, a master device and means to communicate (typically wirelessly) among the various sensor platforms, and the master device including clock synchronization. Correlating the time stamps for data among various sensors, and the master device communicating wirelessly is critical to accurate determination of the desired characteristics. Multiple force-sensitive resistors on a common substrate are individually optimized for dynamic range. Pulse sensors using arrays of such force-sensitive resistors are implemented. The resultant system can profitably be used for gaming, biometric monitoring, and activity tracking.

Systems and methods are provided for generating a design for a gliding board. The methods involve operating a processor to: define a desired carved turn of the gliding board; define a desired global curvature profile; generate a desired deformed shape of the gliding board during the desired carved turn; generate a sidecut profile of the gliding board; generate a width profile of the gliding board; generate a camber profile of the gliding board; generate at least one stiffness design variable profile; generate a total load profile; modify at least the width profile, the sidecut profile and at least one of the at least one stiffness design variable profile at least once; and define the design for the gliding board based at least on the width profile, the camber profile, and the at least one stiffness design variable profile.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

A device for setting the orientation of a boot binding on a snowboard includes a disk fixable to the board, the binding being mounted to be able to rotate in relation to the disk about a vertical axis of rotation, at least one locking method mounted adjustably between a locked position where it immobilizes the binding in relation to the disk, and an unlocked position where it allows the rotation of the binding around the axis of rotation for an angular adjustment of the binding in relation to the board, the displacement of the locking method is ensured by an actuator, that is remotely controllable, and a locking method and an actuator that are installed in the disk so that: the actuator can be actuated when the boot is retained in the binding and, the locking method is movable by the actuator when the boot is retained in the binding.

A motorized vehicle assembly includes an axle comprising a channel extending along a central axis of the axle, a socket positioned within the channel of the axle, and a motorized wheel configured to be mounted on an end the axle. The motorized wheel includes a boss configured to engage the end of the axle when the motorized wheel is mounted on the axle, an electric motor, a tire mounted on the rotor, and a plug positioned within the boss, the plug configured to engage with the socket when the motorized wheel is mounted on the axle. The electric motor includes a stator fixed to the boss and a rotor surrounding the stator, the rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator. The electric motor is configured to cause the rotor to rotate relative to the stator to cause the tire to rotate.

A self-balancing vehicle includes a vehicle body having a housing with left and right sides which are independently moveable. A unitary support bar is disposed within the housing, and a left drive wheel and an opposed right drive wheel are each coupled to the support bar. A bracket encircles the support bar; the bracket has a cylindrical body formed with a slot through the body. A set screw is fixed to the support bar and is received within the slot to limit rotational movement of the support bar with respect to the bracket.

Articles of sports equipment, such as striking implements (e.g., sticks) and wearable articles (e.g., skates, helmets) for playing hockey or other activities, in which at least one of the characteristics (e.g., stiffness) of the articles of sports equipment is adaptable and can be altered during use of the sports equipment, such as by comprising an alterable component coupled to a controller, by comprising an alterable component that is autonomously alterable, and/or by an alterable component that can be altered in response to a command of a remote device.

A system for analysis of use of a sliding board comprising at least one piezoelectric element configured to be secured to the sliding board and generate electric energy during deformations of the sliding board; and an electronic processing circuit configured for estimating at least one parameter of use of the sliding board and configured to be connected to the sliding board. The electronic processing circuit is powered by the electric energy generated by the at least one piezoelectric element.

A system for analysis of user gait and to provide correction in form of haptic and visual feedback. This system comprises a motion and force sensors and a haptic actuator embedded in the user shoe insoles in communication with a smart-phone based analysis application, configured to calculate motion and orientation of the user feet in relation to the value, location and distribution of ground reaction forces measured by sensors located in the shoe insoles and after analysis of said forces and motion, to provide haptic feedback to the user foot instructing about the location (and timing) of pressure the user must apply to achieve an optimal gait.