Adaptive treadmill

摘要

A motor-driven treadmill includes a stationary ultrasonic range finder which continuously measures the distance to the torso of a person walking or running on the moving tread of the treadmill. When the person approaches too closely to the front of the treadmill, the treadmill speed and/or the treadmill slope are increased; and when the person retreats too far away from the front of the treadmill, the treadmill speed and/or the treadmill slope are decreased. The response of the treadmill speed and/or slope control system may be improved by making the controller responsive to the rate of change of the distance between the person using the treadmill and the front of the treadmill, so as to provide anticipation of the distances which will be traversed by the user of the treadmill.