Introduction

This is the RoboStroke user guide. The latest version of this document is available here.

RoboStroke is an Android application for ​Rowing. An Android device with RoboStroke attached to your boat will monitor your stroke rate and boat speed.

RoboStroke UI showing 3 graphs:

Features

application UI presents the following visuals to the user:

• Stroke rate
• Speed
• Distance
• Elapsed time
• Graphs:
  • Current/Stroke/Recovery? roll bar graph
  • Stroke power bar graph
  • Current stroke zoom graph
  • Stroke analysis graph
  • Continuous stroke graph

Device compatibility

Any Android device with accelerometer/orientation and GPS sensors, running Android 2.0 or later may be used. The application has only been tested on the Nexus One, though.

Limitations

RoboStroke performance and precision may depend on the strength and specs of the Android device it runs on. I addition, some of the graphs/views may not be viewable during an outdoors rowing session, unless the device has an exceptionally bright/large screen.

How to use

Device Tilt

The device must be attached to the boat facing the rower, with the screen tilted slightly upwards and back. The application will not work with a forward tilt, nor with a more than 180 degree tilt backward.

Distance/Speed? precision

The application is programmed to update the distance and speed values by increments of 40m. Depending on the GPS reception quality, the figures shown may be anything between 'quite precise' to 'very inprecise'. The colour of the bar underneath the speed display will be coloured green for best precision, red for worst.

Graph Zooming

Due to device screen size limitations, not all graphs may be viewed at the same time. Currently up to 3 graph views may display simultaneously, however, it is possible to zoom to display only one or two graphs by double-tapping on any graph

Graph Switching

An upward 'fling' on a graph will replace it with another graph not currently shown.

Recording/Replaying?

Recording

It is possible to record a rowing session for later replay/analysis. This is achieved from the application context menu. Recorded files are stored on the device SDCard.

Replaying

To replay a previously recorded file, go to the context menu and choose a previously recorded file for replay. Fast forward/rewind is possible during replay by 'flinging' motion inside any of the graph areas.

Stroke analysis graphs

• stroke power bars:
  
• continuous stroke/recovery/roll graph:
  
• stroke/recovery roll bars:
  
• last stroke/recovery analysis graph:
  
• stroke zoom:
  

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