Possibility to Use Professional Bicycle Computers for the Scientific Evaluation of Electric Bikes: Trajectory, Distance, and Slope Data

Tomasz Matyja, Andrzej Kubik and Zbigniew Stanik
Additional contact information
Tomasz Matyja: Department of Road Transport, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krasinskiego Street, 40-019 Katowice, Poland
Andrzej Kubik: Department of Road Transport, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krasinskiego Street, 40-019 Katowice, Poland
Zbigniew Stanik: Department of Road Transport, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krasinskiego Street, 40-019 Katowice, Poland

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: This work presents an analysis of data recorded by a bicycle computer paired with typical measurement sensors in order to determine whether the data can be useful for a scientific evaluation of the cyclist–electric bicycle anthropotechnical system. There are no studies on this subject in the available literature. An attempt was made to estimate the quality of data and define the most effective methods of processing and filtering. The imperfections of the measurement system and the potential directions of the development of bicycle computers are indicated. Particular attention has been given to the data needed to compare the energy efficiency of assisted electric bicycles. However, the results of the analyses can also be used in cyclist endurance tests and to simulate routes in various types of bicycle trainers. The article focuses on the data obtained from the GPS module and the barometric altimeter, which make it possible to estimate the trajectory of movement, the distance traveled, and the height of the route above sea level as well as its slope. In order to assess the accuracy, the data from the bicycle computer was compared with the geodetic data. Methods for averaging GPS routes were also proposed. In this way, it was possible to identify the parameters of the selected path for testing bicycles quite accurately. The research presented in this paper is an introduction to the development of methods for assessing the energy efficiency of electric bicycles. Analyses of other data measured by the cycling computer, such as speed, cadence, and power, will be carried out in the second planned part of the article.

Keywords: electric bikes; GPS data; trajectory averaging; altitude; slope; bicycle computer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/758/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/758/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:3:p:758-:d:729652

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().