EDM Laser Electronic Distance Measurement

 

Principle

Stand-alone version with PC

Version integrated with Athletics Manager

 

How can you measure the athletes distance or height performance, without touching the bar or using a metal measuring tape ? We prefer to do this quickly and accurate by the latest EDM electro-optical instrument !
	How does it work On the schematic drawing you can see that the laser system is positioned at any location which gives a complete overview to the measurement site, for example the discus throwing area. Just before the actual event the distance 'A' and the directional angle to the centre of the throwing circle is measured once. We call the centre of the circle the 'reference point' of our measurements. After each attempt the distance 'B' and the directional angle to the point of impact is measured. The difference between the two directions is expressed as angle 'C'. By using a so-called "cosinus-formula", we can calculate the distance 'D' from the angle 'C' and the lengths 'A' and 'B'. We now only have to subtract the half diameter size of the discus circle (=2.5m/2) and we know the throwing distance 'R'. All calculations are of course performed by a personal computer, super accurate, and in a fraction of a second.
	Similarly we will measure once before the start of the javelin event the direction and distance towards the centre of the throwing sector, which should be exactly 8m from the zero line. For long jump and triple jump we measure two 'reference points'. They are located to the left and right side of the take-off board, exacly on the zero-line between the board and the plasticine. The EDM software will now calculate the exact perpendicular distance from the landing point of the athlete to the zero-line. The height of the high jump and pole vault bar can of course not be measured by means of a prism reflector module mounted on the horizontal bar. We therefore will place reflective tape on the middle and both ends of the bar. The central sticker is used for the actual height measurements, while the outer reflectors are used to verify that the bar is exactly horizontal. It is agreed with the IAAF and most national athletic federations that always one classic "tape" verification measurement is performed before the event itself to proove the correct function of the instrument and software, as well as the actions of the EDM operator.
	The initialisation for the instrument is simple and takes only one minute, because you only have to put the instrument exactly horizontal (by using very practical level-indicators on the instrument), and switch it on. The distance measurement itself is even simpler. A small prism reflector module is mounted on the bottom of a metal bar, and pointed by one of the officials to the point of impact for discus, shot put, hammer and other field events. The EDM operator will now direct the telescope of the equipment exactly towards the centre of the prism module, and verify this trough the viewfinder. A simple push on the measurement button will initiate the real measurement, which takes less than 3 seconds. The required trigonometric calculations are automatic and performed in a fraction of a second by the EDM computer (stand alone version) or by the central Athletics Manager computer (FieldTerminal version). If the Athletics Manager software is used, the calculated results (performance, current athlete position, etc) are also automatically showed on a field scoreboard and/or stadium scoreboard.
	TimeTronics can offer you a EDM 'stand-alone' version, where a Windows based personal computer is housed in a practical and professional looking caddy. The complete system is battery operated and has a RS-232 serial output to send the live results to your preferred Athletics Manager and/or scoreboard system.
	If you choose to work with our TimeTronics Athletics Manager, we can replace for the same price the PC by a FieldTerminal with built-in printer. The advantage of the FieldTerminal is that it also has connections to a field scoreboard and windspeed device (long jump + triple jump).

 

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