Drift Mode

In Drift Mode, OnCourse Goggles first leverage the electronic compass used in Compass Mode to determine the orientation of the swimmer’s head prior to starting a swim and then during the swim. The system compares the compass heading to the stored target bearing to provide feedback to the user. In Drift Mode, storing the target bearing also establishes a trajectory or line of navigation from the start point. Once this line of navigation has been established a variety of other sensors including a GNSS (GPS + GLONASS) module are then activated and this GNSS (GPS) data is combined with compass and accelerometer data  to determine if the swimmer has drifted laterally due to currents of water or wind. These combined methods provide varied feedback to the swimmer for angular and lateral deviation using GNSS (GPS + GLONASS) positioning data. In Drift Mode, the forward compass heading, back bearing from start point and distance from the line of navigation are monitored for deviation.  OnCourse Goggles can also be operated using the compass only, when in Compass Mode.

Drift Mode is customizable and requires a higher level of understanding, calibration and testing prior to use, which is specific to the user. There are times when a swimmer’s brain can be fooled by their dominant eye, thinking that a target is centered in their vision, when it is actually several degrees of to the left or right. For this reason and since compass accuracy is critical for Drift Mode, a method exists in the software for the swimmer to test and establish an offset for their dominant eye.

Prior to each use, OnCourse Goggles must be fully charged.  The goggles are charged with a provided micro-USB cable and any USB Charger capable of providing 5 Volts DC. When inserting the micro USB cable into the goggles, care must be taken to insert the plug into the connector so that the locking pins (or teeth) are facing the front of the goggles (away from the swimmer). The cable should never be forced into place, but rather gently inserted.

Swimmers must always follow the safety guidelines which are updated regularly on our website and those guidelines established by race organizers, officials and those authorities having jurisdiction.

All user input is provided by pressing the OnCourse logo of the left side of the Goggles to activate a switch under the shell. To turn the Goggles ON, the user would press the OnCourse logo and wait for the ready state. The user can then center a target in their field of vision and press the logo to store that heading as a desired compass bearing prior to starting to swim. During travel, the patented technology in OnCourse Goggles monitor the position of the swimmers head to determine if the swimmer is properly oriented towards the stored target bearing and then provides LED feedback in each eyepiece to alert the user if they have a deviated from the stored target bearing.

The goal is to keep the LEDs green in both eyepieces during a swim, which indicates that the swimmer is on course. Should the swimmer turn their head or torso slightly to the left in a way that deviates from the stored target bearing, the yellow LED will illuminate in the left eyepiece to alert the swimmer that they have pivoted off course slightly to the left. To correct, the swimmer would simply turn their head slowly and slightly to the right and the body will follow. The LEDs will switch back to green when on course. Now, if the swimmer were to instead turn their head or torso even further the the left, the LED will change from yellow to red in the left eyepiece indicating that the deviation is even more severe to the left. Correction is basically the same. To correct, the swimmer would simply turn their head slowly and slightly more to the right and then the body will follow. As correction occurs, the LED will change from red, to yellow and then finally back to green as the swimmer pivots to align with the stored bearing.

This concept described in the paragraph above is exactly the same if the swimmer were to turn their head or torso slightly to the right in a way that deviates from the stored target bearing, the yellow LED will illuminate in the right eyepiece to alert the swimmer that they have pivoted off course slightly to the to the right. The method of correction is the same as stated previosuly, but to the left.

The key is to always make slight corrections with the head; the swimmer should avoid over-correcting. If you move your head, the body will follow.

Note the two different types of feedback in the table below, that are provided while using the Goggles in Drift mode.

Sensors in the Goggles monitor the motion and position of the swimmers head. The sensors are used to set stability thresholds so that the LED  feedback remains stable and does not change frequently as the swimmer turns their head to breathe. If the swimmer finds that the LED feedback switches frequently between yellow and green, this is an indication that the swimmer must learn to keep their head stable and oriented toward the target. This feedback works as a biofeedback mechanism so that the swimmer can learn to respond in a way that stabilizes the position of their head or torso during swimming for a more efficient swim.

Sometimes, a swimmer will turn their body excessively in which case,all three LEDs are flashing in both left and right eyepieces. In this case the user has rotated their head or torso in a way to deviate more than 70 degrees from the stored target bearing. The user should make a major correction to re-orient their head and torso, or store an entirely new target bearing.

Drift Feedback

In Drift Mode, more sensors are activated in the Goggles to monitor for drift and alert the swimmer if there is lateral drift. If the swimmer maintains their head or torso within the basic deviation from the stored target bearing, they can still find their way off course over time, or even sooner due to currents of water or wind.  In this case, the yellow LED will flash in the respective eyepiece to alert the swimmer that they have drifted off course slightly to the left or the right. To correct, the swimmer would continue to swim, but  simply turn their head slowly and slightly in the opposing direction and the body will follow. The LEDs will switch back to green when on course. Now, if the swimmer were to drift even further to the left or the right of the line of travel,  the LED will change from flashing yellow to flashing red in the respective eyepiece indicating that the deviation is even more severe from the intended line of travel. Correction is basically the same. To correct, the swimmer would simply turn their head slowly and slightly more tin the opposing direction and then the body will follow. As correction occurs, the LED will change from flashing red, to flashing yellow and then finally back to green as the swimmer pivots to align with the stored bearing.

Each time the swimmer reaches one of the destinations, they can turn to face the next target and press the OnCourse logo to store the next target bearing. There are no limits to the number of times that a new bearing can be stored.

The Goggles can be turned off by pressing and holding the OnCourse logo for two seconds. In addition, using the same sensors that monitor the position of the user’s head, a timer will automatically turn the Goggles off after three minutes of inactivity.

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