Bluetooth Tag Timing and Tracking for Sporting Events Beyond Cell Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing participatory athletic event timing systems, such as those using RFID tags, are inflexible and lack the ability to provide comprehensive participant data beyond completion times, especially in areas without cell coverage.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags with programmable IDs and adjustable transmission power and rate, combined with gateways and cloud mapping, to track and position participants, enabling data transmission over extended distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If RFID tags are used for timing participants, then completion times can be recorded, but the system lacks flexibility and cannot provide comprehensive participant data beyond basic timing
Solution Approach 1:
The Bluetooth Low Energy tag is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a timing device and a tracking device, and can additionally provide positioning data. This multi-functional approach replaces the single-function RFID tag, allowing the system to collect comprehensive participant data including location, speed, and timing information throughout the event, not just completion times.
2Ease of operation
If traditional timing systems are used, then basic completion times are provided, but participants receive little additional information or service
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously collects data from Bluetooth Low Energy tags and provides real-time feedback to participants through a mobile application. Participants can view their location, pace, time remaining, and performance metrics during the event, enabling them to adjust their performance and receive immediate information about their progress, thereby enhancing the overall service quality.
3Reliability
If cell coverage is required for data transmission, then data can be relayed to the cloud, but areas without cell service cannot transmit participant data
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology as an intermediary communication layer that does not depend on cell coverage. The tags transmit data locally to nearby devices or store data locally, and when cell coverage becomes available, the accumulated data is then relayed to the cloud. This intermediary approach ensures continuous operation and data collection in areas without cellular service while maintaining the ability to transmit data when coverage is available.
Data Source
AI summary
One of the main services provided by the participatory athletic events (i.e., marathons and triathlons), is an event completion time. Today's timing systems generally use a form of RFID to assign a unique ID to each participant and use the unique RFID signal at each checkpoint to ID and time the participants. Many of these RFID devices are not configurable after manufacturing. Their output power level or the transmission rate could not be changed. In our application, we introduce the use of Bluetooth devices to ID the participants, control the transmission power and the transmission interval of the signal sent out by Bluetooth devices. We introduce a system that is significantly lighter to carry, easier to deploy, and uses lower operating voltages than a traditional RFID system commonly used in participatory athletic events.