The Development Of Automatic Circle-counting And Timing System Used In Sports

This project applies high technologies such as RFID (Radio FrequencyIdentification) technology, information technology to matches the counting needs insports such as long distance races and races of marathons. It adopted RFIDtechnology as its core technology and developed automatic circle-counting and timingsystems which are suitable for long distance races in playing fields. During thecompetition, when a runner passes the receiver, the transponder attached on his shoestransmits the ID data out which will be collected by the receivers. The ID data isrecorded automatically and then processed by the data processing system, so thecircles and the time of this runner will be recorded automatically.This system was developed mainly by the method of experiments. To developthe system, several similar systems were firstly investigated. The specifications andstandards of relative timing systems were investigated as well. The functions andperformances that the system should achieve were carefully determined. Secondly,after making deeply researches on the principle of RFID technology, low frequencyRFID modules and transponders of Texas Instruments were adopted as the corecomponents of this system. Thirdly, by means of engineering experiments, the designof RFID antennae was analyzed and achieved, and many analysis and experimentswere made to dig out the factors which may affect the performance of antenna. On thebasis of those experiments and analysis, several antennae, which are suitable fortiming in races and match low frequency RFID modules, were developed. Fourthly,an antenna array which is suitable for the application of this system was designed.The antenna array uses a special configuration pattern which covers reasonable areaof the race track and can overcome the anti-collision problem of low frequency RFIDsuccessfully. Meanwhile, those configuration could solve the problem of "mirrordetection" which is caused by the coupling of different antenna. In addition, threecommunication and control methods were designed and compared, and a selfdesigned communication controllers were adopted as final method to realize the highspeed collection cycle which is needed by this system. Lastly, host computer softwarewith friendly interface, integrative function was developed. The software isconvenient to operate and it realizes two main functions: the management of sporter'sinformation, collection and processing of data during the competition.To evaluate the performance of the system, multiple tests were performed. Thetests proved that the main performance of this system could satisfy the goal of systemdesign, and it could be compared with the capability of international mature devices.It is competent for circle-counting and timing in long distance races in track-and-fieldgames. After having been expanded, the system can also be used for timing in racesin which the densities of runners were thicker, such as marathons.