Jonathan Dwyer Kenneth Weigel Eric Donovan Project Advisor: Wayne Smith PhD. Presentation Date: 10/27/2011

 No objective method of determining rowing efficiency  No simple, objective method of comparing rowing effectiveness between rowers  All methods of boat selection rely on subjective determinations of speed

 Oar Blade: The “paddle-face” of the oar.  Oar Shaft: The long, cylindrical midsection of the oar.  Oar Collar: The portion of the oar that sits within “Oar Lock.” Fulcrum.  Oar Lock: Portion of rigger that fixes oar to the rigger.  Rigger: Attaches the boat and the Oar Lock.

 “The Catch”: The blade’s placement into the water, ideally enters at the speed of the water.

 “The Drive”: Portion of stroke with most power application. This is where the peak bend rating will occur.

 “The Release” – Blade pressure lessens, oar shaft straightens, blade pushes back on water, causing air pocket to form allowing for easy blade extraction.

 Use a strain gauge to measure bend of the oar during execution of stroke  Program microcontroller to store and manipulate bend readings  Store values on external memory, transmit to cable-connected iPod (real time), display on LCD (real time)  Program to allow after-the-fact performance analysis

 Start/Stop  Timed “pieces” functionality (i.e. stationary bike)  LCD displays strokes per minute, average bend rating, time remaining/elapsed, most recent bend rating (rating of previous stroke)  iPod shows LCD’s information in real time to coxswain  On-pc program will display graphs and data tables allowing for post-practice analysis

 Coach can view data of multiple rowers from multiple pieces to determine work ethic, efficiency, power  Allows for objective comparison between athletes (avg. rating vs. avg. rating)  Coxwains can evaluate rowers based on data, allowing for more relevant feedback

 Strain gauge epoxied onto oar shaft  Wire connects gauge output to integrated circuit for voltage scaling, amplification, and noise reduction  Integrated circuit feeds into microcontroller  Microcontroller connects in serial to LCD for display  Microcontroller output connects via adapter to iPod  Microcontroller output connects to external memory via USB port  External memory will connect back to home computer for post-workout efficiency analysis

 ECE541, ECE548, ECE617, ECE618, ECE651 – analog circuit design  ECE562, ECE583, ECE649 – microprocessor design and implementation  PHYS407, PHYS408 – basic mechanics analysis  ECE633, ECE634, ECE714, ECE757 – filter design and communications systems  CS415, CS416, CS515, CS516 – object orientated programming, software design

 Difficult-to-analyze voltage readings  Bend gauge durability  Interfacing iPod to Arduino microcontroller  Determining scaling circuit amplification parameters  Storage of values onto external memory  Operational efficiency (memory)  Open source technology can cause unexpected problems (not to “industry grade”)

 1 Arduino Mega 2560 = $58.95  1 Phi-2 Interactive Shield Kit (Display)= $29.95  1 iOS Developer Program License= $99.00  5 Inventables Bend Sensor= $64.75  1 Gorilla Glue 8 fl. Oz All-Purpose Adhesive= $10.97  1 Redpark Serial Cable for iOS w/ P4 Serial Adapter = $66.00  1 Used Sweep Oar, Blade Design Irrelevant= $50.00  1 Wire Lead Package = $10.00  1 DB9 M/F Null Modem Adapter= $09.99  1 VDip1 Adapter= $35.00  1 USB Key (“flip drive”)= $20.00  Power Supply= $05.00  Total Cost = $459.61