Computerized exercise system and method

A computerized exercise system comprising:

• at least one exercise module;
• a manipulandum;
• a displaceable cable extending between said at least one exercise module and said manipulandum;
• and
• processor control means;
• said at least one exercise module including:
• a reel adapted to wind said cable means thereon,
• a DC motor, and
• a Harmonic Drive unit mated to said DC motor and coupled between said DC motor and said reel;
• said processor control means controlling said DC motor to rotate said reel, thereby controlling displacement of said cable means, thus exerting a desired tension force in said cable means, and thereby applying a desired resistive force to said manipulandum through said cable means.

A method of exercising, comprising the steps of:

• providing an exercise member,
• providing at least one exercise module,
• providing a reference base,
• removably attaching said at least one exercise module to said reference base at a predetermined location thereat,
• extending displaceable cable means from said at least one exercise module and coupling a rear end thereof to said exercise member,
• monitoring actual displacements of said cable means,
• monitoring actual tension forces in said cable means,
• providing processor control means,
• storing in said processor control means at least one predetermined exercise configuration data set, said data set including parameters corresponding to positions of said exercise member and parameters corresponding to resistive forces to be applied to said exercise member at said positions thereof,
• in real time comparing said actual displacements of said cable means with said positions of said exercise member, and generating a signal representative of a desired resistive force to be applied to said exercise member at the position thereof corresponding to said actual displacement of said cable means,
• translating said desired resistive force to be applied to said exercise member into a desired tension force to be exerted in said cable means, and,
• displacing said cable means by means of said at least one exercise module in a direction and at a displacement distance determined in a real time by said processor control means to exert said desired tension force in said cable means.