Electro-Com RFID solutions of SPORTS TIMING

Coordinating the times of thousands of runners during a race is no longer a marathon task! Sports timing systems based on TI-RFid technology, can collect perfect timing data at major marathons around the world from Melbourne to Manly. RFID Race Timing Systems based in Western Australia have transponder timing bands which attach around the runners ankle with a RFID transponder built into the timing band. The timing starts when the band passes over an antenna at the starting line. The process is completed as the runner crosses an antenna at the finish line.

How does the technology work?
The RFID sports timing device is a small glass RFID transponder in a specially designed plastic housing, containing a unique identification number. The RFID transponder is a waterproof glass capsule that contains a chip and an energising coil.

There are no batteries in the RFID transponder. The transponder is inactive until it passes through the field generated by the mat at the designated read points. When the transponder enters the magnetic field, the transponder transmits its unique identification number to the reader in a mat. The entire process takes approximately 60 milliseconds.

TI-RFID Sports Timing Technology:
.:  Wide acceptance at some of the world's most prestigious running events
.:  Ability to track individual times; important for runners minutes away from starting line
.:  Guards against cheaters by placing antennas at interim points
.:  Can be used in all active sport events including triathlons, bike races, and ski events - one tag can be used for all these events.
.:  Data captured from the transponders, loads to Internet for everyone to access.
.:  The transponders can be used in all weather conditions.

There are two different technologies that can be used for sports timing. The low frequency 134.2KHz glass capsule transponders and the high frequency 13.56MHz label transponders.

Low Frequency 134.2kHz glass transponder		High Frequency 13.56MHz label transponder inlay

Sports Timing News

RFID Race Timing of Western Australia who use the 134.2 KHz Low Frequency Transponder have set up a alliance with Bluechip Timing who are the new supplier of timing systems to Super Sprint Events. Super Sprint Events run some of the largest sporting events within Australia and other countries including the Corporate Triathlon Series, Run for the Kids, Gatorade Triathlon Series, Singapore Triathlon and many more. Please click here to see the pdf with all the details of the new appointment.

TI-RFID™ SPORTS TIMING CASE STUDIES:

The 2006 Australian Ironman

Texas Instruments RFID modules forms the basis of a highly developed timing system developed by RFID Race Timing Systems. The system was used exclusively at the Australian Ironman at Port Macquarie on April 1st, 2006. Over 1500 competitors were timed at many points throughout the 17 hour event which consists of a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42km run. Each timing point was networked to a central server so that results could be processed in realtime and sent to a web server so that the progress of athletes could be monitored by the general public via the internet.

Athletes wear a specially designed ankle band and housing with a Ti-RFid 32mm glass transponder throughout the race. During the day, times are taken on the entrance to the water, swim exit, start of bike, bike laps, finish of bike, start of run, run laps and finishline. Furthermore there are special timing points linked to a commentary system enabling the commentators to immediatly identify each athlete and draw from a wealth of information stored for that athlete on a database.

"The 134.2 kHz low frequency RFID technology is still the benchmark for sports timing because of its reliability under field conditions."

IMAGES
Sports Timing Image 1
Sports Timing Image 2

Accurate Scores Keep Motorcycle Racers on Track

Competitors in Hare Scramble and Enduro off-road motorcycle racing are speeding through designated checkpoints during races thanks to TI's RFID technology. Software developer John Bouma developed a program called Race Timer that uses TI- RFid tags and readers to improve scoring by minimising lag-time, maximising the amount of riders on the track at one time, and eliminating concerns about the accuracy of collected data, all of which have improved the overall professionalism of the sport.

In the past, teams were comprised of up to 20 individuals with roughly 120 riders on the track at one time. As the riders approached the single gate checkpoint, they needed to come to a complete stop to pass through individually, because their time was recorded manually using punch cards. The use of barcodes on rider's helmets improved the scoring process since data could be analysed for lap times, starting times, and overall and class standings. However, riders still needed to come to a complete stop at the checkpoint to be scanned track side, which slowed the event and limited the number of participants.

Today, using TI-RFid technology, riders can continue racing through checkpoints. By strategically placing antennas throughout the racing trails and attaching a TI transponder with read/write capabilities to the rider's chest protector or front fender, the racer's time is recorded when he or she passes by the antenna at each checkpoint. The software automatically reads the rider's transponder and determines his status at each checkpoint, displaying his number, registered class, rank, and distance behind the closest rider in his class at that location.

TI-RFid™ has also enhanced the registration process by reducing queue time and paperwork. At registration, each rider is given a transponder, which is linked to a database containing all of the rider's pertinent information, including name, racing number, and competing class. Once assigned, a transponder is valid throughout a rider's career, and information can easily be updated on the spot using its read/write capabilities.

The sport is increasing in popularity with an average of 400 riders on the track at a time. While it would have been impossible to track and score this many riders using manual methods, the new scoring system with TI-RFid technology can now easily support 1,000 riders on the track simultaneously.

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Electro-Com is the official distribution partner for Texas Instruments TI-RFID™