Beer bet.
Does anyone have a link to the FINA rule that explains how automated equipment is used to judge relay take offs?
The FINA rules I've been able to find on-line first point you to section SW 13.1, which then points you to FR 4. But FR 4 doesn't address it.
I need the link to the explict FINA paragraph to win my beer.
I already have the undocumented statement from the Washington Post April 1, 2007.
"Officials ruled Crocker left 0.01 of a second earlier than the allowable start time. Crocker got off the blocks with a reaction time of -0.04 of a second. The most allowed is -0.03."
Thanks
In the patent application for the Daktronics relay exchange platform (patent 7403135), in the background for the patent, it says
In current practice, it is difficult for an electronic timing system to detect the actual instant the second swimmer loses all contact with the relay takeoff swimming platform. Currently available relay takeoff sensors rely on measuring the force exerted by the second swimmer on the relay takeoff swimming platform, some using a mechanical switch mechanism in the relay takeoff swimming platform top, others using a pressure sensitive piezo device. Experiments have been conducted with this latter method using load cells and accelerometers. It has been demonstrated that the accuracy of force measurement methods is limited by the fact that the swimmer may have one toe in contact with the relay takeoff swimming platform, but exert an immeasurable force against it. This results in the start being signaled before it has actually occurred. Because of this, FINA allows a tolerance of 0.03 second in relay exchange timing. In other words, a swimmer will not be disqualified unless the timing system shows a departure more than 0.03 second before the swimmer in the water touches the touchpad sensor. The “0.03 second” figure was established in tests using an Omega Sports Timing starting block, which showed that the signal from the relay takeoff swimming platform was consistently between 0.024 and 0.027 seconds before the actual departure.
This is the Daktronics patent for their "contact based" relay exchange pad, which detects contact, and not pressure. Their (Daktronics) documentation says that they are accurate to 0.01 second. So -0.01 second is a DQ.
-Rick
In the patent application for the Daktronics relay exchange platform (patent 7403135), in the background for the patent, it says
In current practice, it is difficult for an electronic timing system to detect the actual instant the second swimmer loses all contact with the relay takeoff swimming platform. Currently available relay takeoff sensors rely on measuring the force exerted by the second swimmer on the relay takeoff swimming platform, some using a mechanical switch mechanism in the relay takeoff swimming platform top, others using a pressure sensitive piezo device. Experiments have been conducted with this latter method using load cells and accelerometers. It has been demonstrated that the accuracy of force measurement methods is limited by the fact that the swimmer may have one toe in contact with the relay takeoff swimming platform, but exert an immeasurable force against it. This results in the start being signaled before it has actually occurred. Because of this, FINA allows a tolerance of 0.03 second in relay exchange timing. In other words, a swimmer will not be disqualified unless the timing system shows a departure more than 0.03 second before the swimmer in the water touches the touchpad sensor. The “0.03 second” figure was established in tests using an Omega Sports Timing starting block, which showed that the signal from the relay takeoff swimming platform was consistently between 0.024 and 0.027 seconds before the actual departure.
This is the Daktronics patent for their "contact based" relay exchange pad, which detects contact, and not pressure. Their (Daktronics) documentation says that they are accurate to 0.01 second. So -0.01 second is a DQ.
-Rick
