Development of a powermeter for a bicycle II

• Main Author: Lee, Wee Hong.
• Other Authors: Yap Fook Fah
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Manufacturing::Product design
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/17104
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

For a semi-pro or pro cyclist, analyzing and realizing one self’s performances is important. A powermeter is useful to a cyclist in helping the cyclist to measure parameters like the power output of the cyclist. This proves to be more evident during a race. Currently, powermeters that are already in the market is expensive and only people with higher spending power or serious cyclist will be more likely in using them. As more and more people are interested in learning and monitoring their training progresses during cycling, this project aims to improve and develop the current prototype of a powermeter which is more affordable while serving the same quality and purposes. This project includes designing, developing, implementing and testing of the improved powermeter prototype: the Transmitter and Receiver Unit. In this project, strain gauges will be used and planted in a Wheatstone Bridge layout where during tension and compression occurs due to torques from the cyclist, the strain gauges will experience a strain which will transform and produce a change in output voltage. This output voltage will then be used for calculation and data will be transfer to the Receiver Unit for display. In addition, through the correct programming, calculation and conversion, other parameter like the Cadence will be display too. For the receiver unit, the Cadence of a cyclist is determined by using a Hall Effect Sensor which makes use magnetic detection when the pedal rotates at close proximity.