Development of a PowerMeter for a bicycle - I

Abstract

The evolution of bicycle started in the 1800s years, serving as a mode of transportation for the people. Over the years, the basic structure of the bicycle has improved, providing a more comfortable ride for the riders compared to their predecessors. Until today, bicycle still serve its basic purpose as a mode of transport for many around the world [1]. In addition, bicycles are also being use for sports, exercise and recreational activities. With an increasing population of cyclists and as people becomes more health conscious, the demand for advance bicycle accessories such as power meter, a device that measures cadence and power, which enables the cyclists to keep track of their performance has also increases [2]. However, due to its price, the commercial power meters have deters many non-professional cyclists. This report is a continuation of the previous reports for the development of an economical and reliable power meter for bicycle with telemetric capability as the given project is a continuation of the previous work. The report features the procedures to conduct a dynamic test for the existing half-bridge strain gauge spider crank and the analysis of the results obtained via In-House Cycling Application. In addition, the report also details the development of the existing prototype. The development focused on the designing of the wiring and production for the full-bridge strain gauge spider crank for two prototypes with different rigidity, possible improvements to be made to the existing test rig and the design of the new Printed Circuit Board (PCB) device suitable for testing of the full-bridge strain gauge spider crank.