Abstract: A method determines running phases of a user on a treadmill having first and second rotating elements rotating about respective rotational axes transverse to a longitudinal axis of the treadmill. A physical exercise surface connects to the rotating elements. An electric motor operatively associated with one rotating element rotates the rotating elements and the physical exercise surface. A processor connects to the electric motor and controls the electric motor. The processor determines a magnitude variable over time, which is correlated to user interaction with the exercise surface while exercising and has a periodic trend. The processor determines time instants of at least two points of the periodic trend. The time instants of each point representing instants of user interaction with the exercise surface. The processor determines a running phase of the user on the exercise surface as a function of the respective time instants of the periodic trend.

Abstract: An adaptive control method for a treadmill includes dividing the physical exercise surface of the treadmill into control zones; detecting, by an electronic control unit, a distance value of a user from a reference point. The electronic control unit compares the detected distance value with the first distance of the first boundary line of a first control zone. If the detected distance value is smaller than the first distance, the method further includes the electronic control unit controlling an increase in feeding speed of the physical exercise surface, and modifying the first distance of a first boundary line of the first control zone from a first value to a second value, along a development direction of the physical exercise surface in a second feeding direction opposite to the first feeding direction. The second value is either greater than or equal to the detected distance value.

Abstract: A method determines running phases of a user on a treadmill having first and second rotating elements rotating about respective rotational axes transverse to a longitudinal axis of the treadmill. A physical exercise surface connects to the rotating elements. An electric motor operatively associated with one rotating element rotates the rotating elements and the physical exercise surface. A processor connects to the electric motor and controls the electric motor. The processor determines a magnitude variable over time, which is correlated to user interaction with the exercise surface while exercising and has a periodic trend. The processor determines time instants of at least two points of the periodic trend. The time instants of each point representing instants of user interaction with the exercise surface. The processor determines a running phase of the user on the exercise surface as a function of the respective time instants of the periodic trend.

Abstract: An adaptive control method for a treadmill includes dividing the physical exercise surface of the treadmill into control zones; detecting, by an electronic control unit, a distance value of a user from a reference point. The electronic control unit compares the detected distance value with the first distance of the first boundary line of a first control zone. If the detected distance value is smaller than the first distance, the method further includes the electronic control unit controlling an increase in feeding speed of the physical exercise surface, and modifying the first distance of a first boundary line of the first control zone from a first value to a second value, along a development direction of the physical exercise surface in a second feeding direction opposite to the first feeding direction. The second value is either greater than or equal to the detected distance value.