Torque Analysis

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The SRM Ethernet Torque Analysis hardware and software is designed to display pedaling torque inputs in real time and provide the user with the ability to save and analyze the data with a recording rate of 200 Hz.

Torque data is useful when working to determine optimum bike fit, the result of changes made to position, athlete pedaling dynamics, and when working to rehabilitate after injury. Data collected can be saved, reloaded, and exported for use in various other applications and formats.

Requirements

  • SRM Ethernet Torque Analysis Box
  • SRM Powermeter with wired coil and sensor cable
  • Computer running either: MS Windows XP, Vista or 7; Mac OSX 10.5 or higher; or Linux Kernel 2.6 or higher
  • Java Interpreter installed on the computer
  • Ethernet connection and Cat5 patchcable

System Setup

Connections

The SRM torque analysis box will connect as follows:

  • Sensor: Analog sensor cable
  • Ethernet: LAN connection
  • Digital: Reserved for future use
  • + 5v DC: Power supply
  • Cadence: indicates a revolution
  • On: indicates if powered up

Note: Power delivery from USB port on a computer is not sufficient to run the SRM Ethernet Torque box. Please use the external power supply.

Software preparation

  1. Download the latest SRM torque software from www.srm.de
  2. Install the software. If needed, Java runtime environment will be downloaded and installed automatically

Hardware installation

  1. Doublecheck PowerMeter installation/sensor cable
  2. Connect SRM Ethernet Torque Analysis Box to the sensor cable. Use the analog input port of the SRM Ethernet Torque box
  3. Connect AC Power supply to the power input port of the SRM Ethernet Torque Analysis Box, check if power LED (green color)is on (see troubleshooting for any problems)
  4. Secure SRM Ethernet Torque box in stable position
  5. Start pedaling and check if the cadence LED (amber color) is flashing once per revolution
  6. Connect the network cable to the LAN port on the SRM Ethernet Torque Analysis Box and to your computer

Network setup

  1. Check the SRM Ethernet Torque box default IP address on the bottom of the outer case. The last digit of your PC's IP address (see next step) has to differ from the one of the torque box.
  2. Choose a free and valid IP address for your computer in the same subnetwork as the SRM Ethernet Torque Analysis Box (192.168.0.x).
If you are using MS Windows: Press "Start“ button, open "Control Panel“, open "Network and Internet", select "Network and Sharing Center“, click "View Network Connections“, click on the connection you need to change (i.e. LAN), open "Properties“, double click on "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPV4)“ and insert the choosen IP address.
Please insert a different IP address than that of the Torque Box. Just change the last or the last two numbers of the Torque Box IP (e.g. 192.168.0.89). Otherwise there will be a conflict of the IP addresses.
If you are using Apple OSX: Launch "System Preferences“ from the Apple menu (or Spotlight), click on the "Network“ icon in the lower right, click on the "Advanced“ button, in the pulldown menu next to "Configure IPv4" select "Manually“ and insert the chosen IP address.

Software setup

  1. Launch the SRM Torque Software
  2. When the software first runs, a writable folder needs to be defined to save the data. Select a folder.
  3. Main screen is now shown; go to Settings by clicking on the lower right corner button or through the Options-Settings on the top menu and configure the program

Start pedaling, and check the connection indicator on the lower left corner of the screen: this indicator should be green, if not go to log tab and check the messages. Program settings and log file will be stored under the user's document folder:

Win XP: C:\Document and Settings\Document\SRMTrainingSystem\SRMTorque
Win Vista/7: C:\Users\Document\SRM TrainingSystem\SRMTorque
OSX: /User/Documents/SRM Training System/SRMTorque

Screens

Main screen

Maingraph Torque Analysis

The majority of this screen is taken by a graph showing online data:

  • the x-axis of this graph is measuring the angle of revolution in degrees
  • the y-axis represents the torque in Newtonmeters

The right side of this screen has two buttons: Record /Stop and Reset. Pressing the Record button begins recording, pressing the Reset button clears all stored data. Here you can define the „Automatic stop“ settings. Selecting „None“ will result in recording revolutions until stopped manually.

Selecting "Revolutions“ will result in recording the specified number of revolutions entered. Selecting "Time“ will result in recording the specified seconds of time entered.

The "Notes“ area is for entering information specific to the revolution data that you record; any notes entered here will be displayed in the revolution table in the "Analysis“ view.

Directly below the main graph, there is a field showing numerically the index of the revolution with the relative cadence and power.

The bottom of the main view has a tracking feature which allows you to see specific angle and torque data as you mouse over the graph.

Analysis screen

The top part of this view contains a revolution table, showing data from all recorded revolutions with the appropriate graph for the selected revolutions underneath.

Zoom with the mouse. Hold the left mouse button and open a zoom window or turn the mouse wheel to zoom in/out. Click and hold the left mouse button and wipe left/right to zoom out. The right graph can be set to show two different torque graphs: "Overlapped“ and „Rounded“: "Overlapped“ displays torque data split into two series: from 0 to 179 and from 180 to 359 degrees.

„Rounded“ displays torque data split into 2 inverted series to better visualize roundness of complete revolution.

Note: Moving the mouse cursor over the revolution line in the graph will popup a message that shows the degrees of the relative series. Selecting multiple revolutions results in the graphical display of all revolutions (For windows operating system, this is done by pressing Ctrl-Click. When using Mac OS, this is done by pressing Command-Click).

The right side of this view has an "Export - Save and Load“ area; to export data, first select the desired revolutions.

  • Export
Then select the output format (CSV, PNG or PDF) and choose what type of graph(s) you need. Pressing the "Export“ button will export all selected revolutions.
1st Example
If you export one revolution or an average data file the CSV file syntax is defined according to the following pattern:
ROW 1: Header: Index, Cadence, Power, Torque, Slope, Zero, Delay, Cranklenght, Weight,
ROW 2 ... N: Body: Angle [Deg], Value [Hz]
The attached example torque data file has got the following header: 12,50.319,312.0,59.351173,17.5,479.0,30.0,170,90
Header
Index: 12
Cadence: 50.319
Power: 312.0
Torque: 59.351173
Slope: 17.5
Zero Offset: 479.0
Delay:30.0
Crank Length: 170,0
Weight: 90
All susequent lines represent the angles and the frequency. That means that you can calculate the torque for every angle by dividing the given frequency by the slope. At the angle of 180 degrees with the frequency of 773 [Hz] and a Zero Offset of 479 [Hz] the torque is calculated at 16.8 [Nm].
Calculating method: (773 [Hz] - 479 [Hz]) / 17.5 [Hz/Nm] = 16.8 [Nm]
2nd Example
If you export more than one revolution as CSV file (s. example torque data file (10 revolutions)) you find at the beginning of each revolution the same syntax which is explained in the 1st example above:
ROW 1: Header: Index, Cadence, Power, Torque, Slope, Zero, Delay, Cranklenght, Weight,
ROW 2 ... N: Body: Angle [Deg], Value [Hz]
  • Data Operation - Calculate Averag
To calculate the average graph of revolutions select two or more revolutions. Press the "Calculate Average“ button in "Data Operation“ area .
  • Save
The "Save“ button allows you to save all checked revolutions (marked with the "Save“ column in revolution table); the number of revolutions is shown on the "Save“ button.
All files will be saved in the data folder defined in the "Settings-System“ window.
The naming of the SRM Torque Analysis file (.sta) is:
"initials-YYYY.MM.DD HH.mm.SS.sta“
where "initials“ will represent the system's user name.
  • Load
The "Load“ button allows you to open revolutions previously saved; press the "Load“ button, select a file, then press "Load File“ button (uncheck
"Update Statistics“ if you do not want the file to affect current statistics). Pressing "Select File“ allows you to Load another file; when all files are loaded, press "Close“ to exit the window.
  • Marker operation
The "Marker operation“ area is used to delete and colorize markers. First, select one or more revolutions, then click a starting point, followed by an ending point. The delta of these two points will be displayed in the lower left corner of the graph, showing both "Angle“ in degrees and "Torque“ in Nm.

Statistics screen

The upper half of this view contains two histograms that show the Cadence and Power distribution for all recorded revolutions. The lower half of this view contains a scattergram that shows the relationship between Cadence and Power for all recorded revolutions

Log screen

The Log view contains a complete listing of all relevent events that occured in the software during the current session:

  • Connection information
  • Save messages
  • Load messages
  • Device status
  • Error notifications
  • Recording events

Settings

The Settings window has 5 tabs.

  • Graph
The "Graph“ tab allows you to change the number of simultaneous revolutions shown on the main graph, as well as select custom colors for each revolution by clicking on the color. The "Add“ and "Delete“ new revolution buttons allow you to change the number of revolutions shown between 1 and 10. Checking the "Automatic torque scale“ box will result in a self-adjusting y-axis for torque values. By leaving this box unchecked, you can manually select the maximum torque value shown on the y-axis of the main graph.
  • User
The "User“ tab contains the user information. The profile drop-down box contains a list of all available users with their information shown when selected.
To change any parameters to a user, select the appropiate user, insert the new value and click "Apply modification“ button. To delete a user, select user and press "Delete User“ button.
To create a new user, input a user name for the profile, all the information, then click "Add User“ button. The current user profile is shown in red. To change the user, select a different user from the "User profile“ drop-down box, and click "Set Default User“ button; the current user information will be updated.
The most important information for a selected user profile as name, weight and crank length are shown in the statusbar on the bottom of the window when it gets updated.
  • PowerMeter
The "PowerMeter“ tab is needed to change the PowerMeter's parameters. You can define the zero offset value and the slope of the PowerMeter as well as the starting position (Activation Point) of the revolution. The Activation Point does not affect the data collection, it only serves the graphic adaptation and displacement of the zero point (0°).
  • Network
The "Network“ tab allows to change all network settings like IP address and port.
  • System
The "System“ tab shows all network interfaces on your computer and is important when configuring your network address. Also, the destination folder for stored data can be changed here.

Utilities

Simulator

The simulator is a part of the SRM Torque Analysis software that allows simulation of revolutions; to enable this go to "Utilities - Simulator“ menu and then press start. Make sure to select „Simulator“ also in the „Network profile“ on the settings menu.

Cadence Bell

This option will enable a cadence signal for each revolution when the signal is triggered.

Tapping the torque data

The question has been asked before if it is possible to tap the torque signal directly from the SRM ergometer without using a Torque Box. Well it is possible to get 2 signals straight out of the PowerMeter of the SRM ergometer: the zero offset and the cadance. The rest of the parameters will be derived from these 2 signals. Some of those paramaters (like the torque signal) are designed by SRM itself and therefore their "secrets" are not released in public. The 2 pictures below are from an oscilloscope (500 Hz) showing the 2 signals (the short one is the zero offset and the long one the cadance).

Troubleshooting

General

  • Power LED doesn't switch on
Check the power supply and the power cable connection.
  • Cadence LED doesn't flash for each revolution
Check the position of the sensor: the correct position is a tangental point to the coil of the PowerMeter, at a perpendicular angle. Normally, this is a point 5cm from the center of the PowerMeter axle. Move or rotate the cable while pedaling until Cadence LED flashes.
  • Power / Torque values shown on "Main“ screen are not accurate
Ensure the PowerMeter settings are correct: check the slope and the zero offset values on Settings-Powermeter window.
  • No connection between the PC and the SRM Ethernet Torque Box
Check the network configuration on your computer, ensure the IP address is in the same subnetwork of SRM Ethernet Torque Analysis box.
  • SRM Ethernet Torque Box's IP adress lost
Use the DeviceInstaller Utility to find and setup a new IP adress.
  • The revolution graph is not in the right position
Check the relative parameter on "PowerMeter profile“ considering the activation point.

PowerMeter related issues

  • Position of the sensor cable
Check position of sensor cable to ensure it is passing over the cadence switch at a distance in between 3 and 5 mm.
  • PowerMeter - no signal
If the position of the sesnor cable is okay and still no signal of the PowerMeter is received, the battery might be the reason. The battery is not self-replaceable. You will need to send the PowerMeter to SRM for replacement. Battery life of the PowerMeter varies between PowerMeter models (700-1900 hours of use). If the variance of your zero-offset frequency is higher than normal and your hours of usage is in the range above 700 hours, your battery likely needs to be replaced.