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The secret weapon of sports events: Why has RFID technology revolutionized the way games are timed?
About thirty years ago, the timing system of sports competitions underwent a disruptive change, and the core of this change was RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. Traditionally, the timing of sports competitions is mostly carried out by personnel using manual timers, or relying on video recording for later comparison. This method is not only time-consuming, but also error-prone. With the introduction of RFID technology, event timing has become efficient and precise, providing unprecedented data support for athletes' performance.
How the RFID timing system works
The core of the RFID timing system is a sensor installed on the athlete's body, often called a "transponder."
"The transponder is based on the principle of radio frequency identification and will send a unique code to the receiver on the track. When the athletes pass certain strategic positions, these codes will be instantly captured and recorded."
These transponders can be divided into two categories: active and passive. Active transponders have batteries inside and actively send codes when a signal is received. In contrast, passive transponders rely on external electromagnetic wave energy to activate. Regardless of the type, the efficiency of the timing system depends on the antennas placed at the start and end points and the connections to the decoders.
The development history of RFID technology
RFID technology was first used in automobile racing in the late 1980s, and by the mid-1990s, with the advent of low-cost 134 kHz transponders and readers, it began to be widely used in various sports events. This technology has gradually become the cornerstone of timing for the world's major events, including marathons, triathlons, and skiing.
Application of RFID in events
Large-scale running events, such as those with more than 10,000 participants, are the first to become the application areas of RFID timing technology. Due to the limitations of human timing, manual timing is almost impossible in such a competition. In addition, the RFID system can effectively solve the delay problem of athletes at the starting line without negatively affecting their performance.
“By placing antennas or timing mats at the start and end of the track, event organizers can accurately calculate each athlete’s net time.”
Today, many major events have adopted disposable transponders, which are often attached to race numbers in the form of stickers or directly attached to running shoes. This low-cost solution not only avoids the need to recycle transponders, but also simplifies the event organization process.
Future trends in technology
With the advancement of science and technology and the further maturity of RFID technology, the timing system of sports events is also constantly evolving. More and more systems are choosing to use UHF (Ultra High Frequency) transponders, which have better read performance. The advantages of UHF systems are that they are cheap to manufacture and read accurately, which makes the application prospects of RFID technology in sports events even broader.
Behind all these technologies is the support of timing software. With the advancement of data analysis technology, all RFID timing systems are equipped with professional software to calculate competition results and split times, and update them to the Internet in real time, so that players and spectators can easily check the latest results.
With the help of RFID technology, the timing of sports events is no longer a simple time statistics, but has become a powerful data acquisition and analysis tool. As technology continues to advance, how will future sports events further improve the accuracy and practicality of timing?
