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Windspeed
UltraSonic
Wind Speed Measurement
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Windspeed
Ultrasonic Wind-gauge
Mandatory
According
to the IAAF Competition Rules, Rule 163, Wind Measurement,
11. on page 63:
11.
Ultrasonic wind-gauges shall be used at all International Meetings
under
1.1 (a) to (f)*.
- World
Championships, Olympic Games and World Cups.
- Area,
Regional or Group Championships open to all Members in
the Area, Region or Group (i.e. Championships over which
the IAAF has exclusive control, comprising only events
in Athletics).
- Area,
Regional or Group Games (i.e.
Games at which competition in several sports is to take
place and over which, therefore, the IAAF has no exclusive
control).
- Area
or Regional Cups and Age Group Events.
- Matches
between two or more Members, or a combination of Members,
Club Cups.
- International
Invitation meetings specifically authorized by the IAAF
(see Rule 3.4).
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When
the time is running, each athlete will try to perform at its
best to break his/here record. But what if the athlete's ultimate
dream suddenly would be shattered by a drifting wind speed measurement
caused by anemometers having rotating mechanical parts (propellers,
paddle wheels,...)?
Let
us remind you of the cream of Track & Field; the sprint races,
whereby breaking a record vitally depends on whether the athlete
had the illicit benefit of a tail wind of more than 2.0 m/s or
not. When exceeding this limit, a possible record will not be
officially acknowledged and ratified. In long jump and triple
jump as well, the precise wind velocity has more than once been
a topic of discussion and controversy. Well, now this has changed!
Windspeed
is an innovative tool that guarantees perfectionism: no more
moving and rotating mechanical parts, but a secure and dependable
electronic system which renders accurate wind speed indication
on scoreboard or display unit.
Moreover,
Windspeed can easily be integrated in the TimeTronics' MacFinish
photo finish system. Windspeed undeniably wipes out the disadvantages
of the former systems which generally make use of a rotating
paddle wheel. These rotating mechanical parts are generally subject
to wear, variable friction. Moreover, after a blast of wind has
abruptly come to a standstill or has changed in direction, the
paddle wheel erroneously keeps on turning. Due to this, read-outs
of the average wind velocity will be too high. No need to argue;
the athlete was the dupe! |
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Windspeed is the first commercial wind-gauge for
athletics which specifically applies the principle of electronic
and sonic wind speed measurement.
A
sonic wave is sent from a minuscule loudspeaker (LS) to a tiny
microphone (Mic), both of which are housed in
the measuring arm. Sound travels through the surrounding air
at a speed of about 341 m/s.
By measuring and registering the difference in
speed between the sonic waves that are traveling along with the
wind and the ones which are traveling against it, we can very
accurately determine the wind velocity.
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Problem
is that the velocity of sound is not a constant, but is dependent
on temperature, humidity and air pressure.
To
compensate for this, the system measures the travel time in two
opposite directions. By evaluation of both travel times,
the actual wind speed is calculated. The result is an accurate
measurement, hundreds of times per second.
After
calculation of the average value over a period of 5, 10 or 13
s and after rounding the result according to the actual
IAAF rules,
the final result is displayed on the built-in display and
transmitted to the MacFinish photo-finish system (running
events) or to
the FieldTerminal (long jump or triple jump). |
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A simple connection to the 3-digit version of
our electromagnetic scoreboard makes the WindSpeed result live
visible to the public.
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For
a manual control of the WindSpeed equipment, simply press the
control button until you have selected the desired
averaging period according to the IAAF rules (5, 10 or 13
s) and press the start button.
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Our equipment is delivered in a strong carrying
case, together with a 12Vdc battery and 220Vac (or optional 110Vac)
battery charger.
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