Electronic timing
The electronic timing has the timekeeping by sports Handstoppung largely replaced. Timekeeping is triggered by a digital start and finish signal, mostly at light barriers . This makes electronically measured times more accurate, more objective and also feasible for mass sports events with many participants.
Basically, two procedures can be distinguished:
- Application for the competitive sport where the times are only recognized less athlete. The time measurement is usually triggered using a competition pistol . In addition to an acoustic signal (sharp bang ) and an optical signal (smoke rises from the pistol), a radio pulse transmits a digital start signal to the computer and triggers the start of the stop. If the athlete crosses the finish line, this is recorded at a light barrier and the time measurement is stopped.
- Application for mass sports events: The time measurement is triggered by a transponder signal that can be assigned to the respective athlete when crossing the start line. When crossing the finish line, the time measurement is also stopped by transponders.
With the procedures described, it is not possible to confirm the route confirmation - i.e. H. to control compliance with the competition route specified by the organizer. For special competition formats such as GPS systems are used, for example, for speed surfing , paragliding and geocaching to monitor whether the route is maintained or the competition objective. In traditional competition formats, however, controlling GPS systems are not yet used.
Differentiation from manual stopping
In contrast to Handstoppung by judges the problems of inaccuracy in the Handstoppung by human does not apply to the electronic time measurement response time is the time acquiring judges. Experiments with time measurement in athletics and other sports have shown that the electronically measured times are about two to three tenths of a second higher than a hand-timed time.