For each exercise, the user of the Build FGCS Exercise Routine Program can define:

• Exercise Position
• Exercise Mode
• Weight to add per stroke
• Rest period after the exercise
• Fixed weight
• Dynamic weight
• Required repetitions
• Force curve shape

* More information about the parameters and their uses is provided below.

Exercise position defines the position (e.g., on a multi-position exercise machine) where each exercise of the routine is to be performed. This information is for the user, and the position of the next exercise to be performed is presented on the FGCS controller screen. "Exercise Position" is selected from a pull-down list, and is for use by the FGCS Controller and the user - it is not downloaded to the FGCS.

When the FGCS is initially installed on the "host" exercise machine, the "setup" software makes provisions for identifying the exercise position(s) available on the machine, using consistent exercise position descriptions. During execution of an exercise routine, before each exercise is initialized, the Execute Routine Program checks the FGCS Position Table to see if the position required by the routine is available on the host machine. If the position is not available, it is skipped in the routine. This approach allows an exercise routine to be used on a "foreign" machine (not the user's normal home machine, e.g., in a gym in another city) which may not be equipped with all the positions required by the routine. This approach also supports preparation and use of a single routine in large gym applications where most machines may be single position, but where all of the exercises in the routine are available on a combination of single and multiple position machines.

Exercise mode is encoded and downloaded to the FGCS by the FGCS controller, prior to start of the exercise. Three (3) exercise modes are selectable: Force Curve, Force Curve-Negatives, and Constant Force.

• Force Curve mode recreates the force curve, defined using the Design FGCS Force Curve Program, from values stored in the FGCS Static RAM, on both the positive and negative half of each exercise stroke.
• Force Curve-Negatives mode holds the weight to a small, constant value on the forward half of the stroke and implements the defined force curve on the negative half of the stroke.
• Constant Force mode imposes a fixed force in all parts of the exercise stroke, with the modification that the force comes up slowly in the beginning of the exercise.

Exercise mode is downloaded to the FGCS, prior to start of the exercise, and is presented to the Trainee/user on the FGCS Controller screen by the Execute Routine Software.

Weight to add per stroke is specified individually for each exercise stroke. The add weight values (some or all of the values may be zero) are downloaded to the FGCS Static RAM memory by the Controller prior to start of the exercise. Add weight values may be positive or negative, and the values are read by the FGCS and used to increase or decrease the weight by the specified amount, for each stroke of the exercise.

Rest period after the exercise is the wait time, in seconds, following completion of the current exercise and start of the next exercise. The rest period can be different for each exercise. The FGCS controller provides an audible alert when it is time for the next exercise to begin. "Rest period" is used by the FGCS Controller during execution of the exercise routine, and is not downloaded to the FGCS.

Fixed weight is the FGCS force setting, when operating in Constant Force mode. Fixed weight is also the weight value of the 'pedestal' that the Force Curve sits on when in Force Curve mode.

Dynamic weight is the maximum force attained by the force curve when in Force Curve mode. In Force Curve mode, force varies throughout the exercise stroke, and the Dynamic Weight value is the maximum force reached by the exercise curve. The required force curve table, for the specified weight, is downloaded to the FGCS prior to start of the exercise. The weight value itself is not downloaded.

Required repetitions is the number of times the specified exercise is to be repeated.

Force curve shape is specified by extracting the curve parameters from the specified *.crv file and inserting the parameters into the "Curve" cell, on the exercise routine form, for the exercise being specified. While the exercise routine is being created, if the user of the program double clicks on either the curve file ID or the curve data on the form, a "thumbnail" of the curve comes up on the routine form. This allows the user to verify the shape of the curve.

Build Exercise Routine with Curve screen capture. Click here or image to enlarge

Among the many interesting features of the exercise routine creation and execution capabilities of the RTS2000 fitness system are:

• The ability to add and remove weight on a stroke-by-stroke basis during the course of each exercise.
• The ability to independently specify the force curve for each exercise.

The Build FGCS Exercise Routine software can be run on any PC, including the FGCS Controller (typically would be used by a trainer). Remote file support is provided via access to the RTS2000 Server, and routines can be read from and written to a smart card.