Abstract: A measuring system for horse races or training. The measuring system including at least one base station on a horse track or around the horse track, and at least one transponder module placed on at least one movable object, which is composed by a jockey and a horse of the jockey, in order to establish a wireless communication with the base station(s). The transponder module is placed on the body of the jockey, and preferably at the back of the jockey or a visible up-part of the horse.

Abstract: For the method and system (1) for measuring physical parameters, several motion sensor assemblies (2) are arranged in different positions on a trampoline (10) and activated to measure any motion over time during jumps performed by a competitor on a trampoline. Following the processing of measurements made in each sensor assembly, data signals are transmitted to a base station (25). As a result of the various measurements received over time from each sensor assembly, the base station determines a time of flight for each of the competitor's jumps, and a position of contact of the competitor on the bed (21) to award points to the competitor for the performance of a determined number of jumps during the competition.

Abstract: A base plate is to be fixed to the ground at the edge of a swimming pool. A starting block can be fixed on the base plate. The base plate includes in an inner cavity, measurement electronics with at least one force or motion sensor or at least one strain gauge, to provide a measurement signal to a processor processing unit of an electronic circuit to determine one or more race parameters to be stored in a memory of the electronic circuit and/or to transmit wirelessly or wired to the base station or a timing station.

Abstract: A display method including the steps of: acquiring, at a first predetermined frequency, a first series of one-spatial-dimensional instant images of the finish line of a race; simultaneously acquiring a second series of two spatial-dimensional instant images of the same finish line (19) at a second predetermined frequency; forming a temporal image (10) of the photo finish type from the first series of instant images; choosing an instant (15, 22) of the temporal image (10); analysing a two-spatial-dimensional image of the second series, the image being correlated with the selected instant (15, 22) to determine at least one distance; and displaying the analysed two-dimensional image with the determined distance or distances. Also, a display system for implementing the method.

Abstract: A support part of a swimming start block. The front support part (18) is provided for a starting block (1) of a swimming race, which includes at least one base (9) to be fixed around a swimming pool, and a platform (5) which is mounted or fixed on the base (9). A foot of a swimmer as well as his hands are supported before the start of a race on the front support part. This front support part is arranged to be mounted interchangeably on a front portion of the platform (5) of the starting block (18) and can be an intelligent front support part with motion sensors and light source and race management electronics.

Abstract: A starting block (1) including a supporting ledge device (10) for a start of a backstroke race. The supporting ledge device is at least partially integrated into the starting block. The supporting ledge device includes a support ledge (13) on which at least one foot of a swimmer can be supported before the start of a backstroke race. The support ledge is held from within a base (9) or a base plate of the starting block by fastening elements (11). Two flexible fastening elements in the form of straps are respectively connected to the two ends of the support ledge and to return means within the starting block at ends opposite the fixation to the support ledge.

Abstract: A video acoustical method determines an impact point of a thrown body on a landing area, in particular for athletics throws disciplines, the body describing a trajectory in the air from a take-off area towards the landing area, the impact point being defined by the body hitting on the landing area. The method includes acquiring video exposures of the body impact on the landing area to a frame rate, each exposure showing one position of the body; calculating the body trajectory during at least the body impact on the landing area with the video exposures analysis; detecting an acoustical impact time due to the body hitting on the landing area; and determining the body impact point on the calculated trajectory with the detected acoustical impact time. A video acoustical system can determine an impact point of a thrown body on a landing area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (MTH) for estimating the coverage area of a directive antenna of a local positioning system while setting up said system, said antenna being located in the vicinity of an area of interest, the method (MTH) comprising the following steps: —Distributing (DIS_TR) a plurality of transponders over the area of interest—Performing (MSD_SS) measurements of signal strength between the antenna and said transponders—Estimating (EST_CV) the coverage area by using said measurements.

Abstract: Provided is a video recording system (10) configured for capturing an object (5) moving along a path (1) including numerous path sections (2, 3, 4). The video recording system (10) includes a first camera (11) operable to capture the object (5) while moving along a first path section (2) of the path (1), a second camera (12) operable to capture the object (5) moving along a second path section (3) of the path (1), and an acquisition unit (31) connected to the first camera (11) and connected to the second camera (12), the acquisition unit (31) being operable to capture a first video stream (51) from the first camera (11) during a first time interval and to capture a second video stream (51?) from the second camera (12) during a second time interval.

Abstract: A system and method for continuously tracking a competitor on an athletics track, including: a wireless transmitter operable to wirelessly submit a query provided with a timestamp, a wearable transponder attachable to the competitor, and configured to receive the query, to generate a transponder specific response and to wirelessly transmit the response, stationary receivers distributed across or around the athletics track. Each of the stationary receivers is configured to receive the transponder specific response and to determine a runtime, which is indicative of a point in time relative to the timestamp at which the transponder specific response has been received by the respective stationary receiver. A processor is connected to the stationary receivers and is configured to determine a position of the wearable transponder relative to the athletics track or relative to the stationary receivers on the basis of the runtimes received from the stationary receivers.

Abstract: A method for the continuous ranking of a competitor during a race of a slalom skiing type sports discipline includes the following iterative steps: a step of measuring the variation in the lateral angle of the gliding board about a predefined axis, a step of detecting the moment when the angle passes through a predefined value, a step of recording the competitor's run time corresponding to the detected moment, a step of comparing the stored run time with those of the preceding competitors for the corresponding detected moment, and a step of ranking the competitor with respect to the preceding competitors as a function of the run time of each competitor. A ranking system implements the method.

Abstract: A system and a method for measurement of the time of passage on a timekeeping line of a race by a competitor, the method being implemented by a measurement system including at least one image sensor. The method includes acquiring electric signals representative of the image of the timekeeping line captured by the image sensor, the electric signals being produced according to optical signals received by the sensor. The method also includes transmitting electric signals to an image-processing unit, detecting the passage of a timekeeping line by an object, detecting information relating to the object to verify that the object corresponds to a competitor, transmitting an order to measure the time of passage to a measurement unit if the object corresponds to a competitor, measuring the time of passage of the object on the timekeeping line corresponding to the instant of passage of the object.

Abstract: A timing method for a sports competition at the same time on different sites (4) around the world. In a first phase, all time bases of the timing devices, of a start coordinator device (3) and of each site are synchronised. Next, a measurement of the transmission times between the start coordinator device and each site is performed to determine a maximum transmission time. The start coordinator device establishes a start time equal to the time of the date of each site and while adding a time difference longer than the determined maximum transmission time. The start time is adapted to each site where the competition takes place to automatically order, by each timing device, the start of the competition at the same time on each site and on the base site of the start coordinator device to have a sports competition taking place live on all competition sites.

Abstract: A system for judging or determining position or posture, and/or a time on a line crossed by at least one competitor or racer in a sporting competition, includes at least an apparatus for taking a photograph when an intermediate line or a finishing line of the competition is crossed, the image of the photofinish type taken defining an input of the system, and a processing unit connected to the photographic apparatus to combine the photofinish image received with a processing of an algorithm using artificial intelligence for automatically placing one or more cursors on the photofinish image.

Abstract: A method for calculating the position of an athlete, referred to as target, on a sports field, including estimating an approximate position of the target using a radio-based positioning system, the system including tracking sensors attached to several athletes on the sports field and antennas installed around the sports field, defining a search space around the approximate position, detecting an athlete in the search space using an optical-based positioning system, the system including cameras installed above and/or around the sports field and image recognition device, determining an accurate position of the detected athlete, attributing the accurate position to the target.

Abstract: A system and method for continuously tracking a competitor on an athletics track, including: a wireless transmitter operable to wirelessly submit a query provided with a timestamp, a wearable transponder attachable to the competitor, and configured to receive the query, to generate a transponder specific response and to wirelessly transmit the response, stationary receivers distributed across or around the athletics track. Each of the stationary receivers is configured to receive the transponder specific response and to determine a runtime, which is indicative of a point in time relative to the timestamp at which the transponder specific response has been received by the respective stationary receiver. A processor is connected to the stationary receivers and is configured to determine a position of the wearable transponder relative to the athletics track or relative to the stationary receivers on the basis of the runtimes received from the stationary receivers.

Abstract: A transponder module of a system for measurement of a race time includes a time base in a microcontroller, which is activated upon receipt of a low-frequency electromagnetic field signal from a transmission antenna of a measuring system which is disposed at the level of a line of passage. The microcontroller, once woken up, is capable of measuring several successive intensities of the captured electromagnetic field in order to reconstruct a curve of the electromagnetic field and to determine a crossing time on the line of passage of the transponder module with the activated time base thereof in order to transmit, to a decoder unit of the measuring system, a signal of the result of the time of crossing determined by the microcontroller.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a time difference of arrival-based local positioning system for k?D localization, k=2 or 3, includes collecting N sets of time difference of arrival measurements related to a mobile node, N?2, each nth set of measurements being performed by Bn beacon nodes among B beacon nodes of the positioning system while the mobile node is located is a nth position within a region covered by the positioning system, Bn?k+2, and determining optimal beacon positions that minimize an objective function depending on N residual error vectors, the calculation of each nth position of the mobile node using beacon positions and the nth set of measurements, the calculation allowing the calculation of the nth residual error vector.

Abstract: A measuring system for horse races or training. The measuring system including at least one base station on a horse track or around the horse track, and at least one transponder module placed on at least one movable object, which is composed by a jockey and a horse of the jockey, in order to establish a wireless communication with the base station(s). The transponder module is placed on the body of the jockey, and preferably at the back of the jockey or a visible up-part of the horse.

Abstract: For the method and system (1) for measuring physical parameters, several motion sensor assemblies (2) are arranged in different positions on a trampoline (10) and activated to measure any motion over time during jumps performed by a competitor on a trampoline. Following the processing of measurements made in each sensor assembly, data signals are transmitted to a base station (25). As a result of the various measurements received over time from each sensor assembly, the base station determines a time of flight for each of the competitor's jumps, and a position of contact of the competitor on the bed (21) to award points to the competitor for the performance of a determined number of jumps during the competition.