NFL testing high-tech optical tracking to measure first downs (1 Viewer)

[longtime lurker]

NFL testing high-tech optical tracking to measure first downs

The NFL's use of the decidedly low-tech 10-yard chain to measure first downs could be replaced by high-tech optical tracking.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[wnelson]

Will still screw the saints when it matters the most

 

[jayd265]

the technology thats out now. i'm surprised its taken this long to change. "cant teach an old dog new tricks" i guess.

glad theyre at least trying something

 

[KaiZenMuse]

NFL testing high-tech optical tracking to measure first downs

The NFL's use of the decidedly low-tech 10-yard chain to measure first downs could be replaced by high-tech optical tracking.

www.nbcsports.com

Hear me out, crazy shower thought here.
2 chain gangs on either side that have sensors that line up across the field at the first down end of the markers and a chip in the ball that can trip the sensor.
They turn red when aligned, green when triggered by ball, no light when misaligned.

Do we have the technology? Would a forward pass over the first down marker be too much of a variable to overcome?

 

[Merl]

Hear me out, crazy shower thought here.
2 chain gangs on either side that have sensors that line up across the field at the first down end of the markers and a chip in the ball that can trip the sensor.
They turn red when aligned, green when triggered by ball, no light when misaligned.

Do we have the technology? Would a forward pass over the first down marker be too much of a variable to overcome?

For any of that to work the entire ball would have to be a chip

 

[Tony1Saintfan]

For any of that to work the entire ball would have to be a chip

Not necessarily. You could have sensors all over the bladder of the ball that communicate the position of the ball.

 

[Doug B]

Not necessarily. You could have sensors all over the bladder of the ball that communicate the position of the ball.

Six sensors would be sufficient— one in each tip and four around the perimeter of the ball. Input from all six sensors would yield a rough wireframe model of the ball in 3D space.

 

[WakeDog17]

I worked at SMT for over 2 years. 1 chip that knows exact distance from each edge would work & I'm sure it's in the hopper and being tested. They already have a puck that does it.

 

[DSnfla]

But it's where the ball is when the KNEE hits the ground , or where a body part goes out of bounds, the 2 have to correlate. Just because the ball crosses the line to gain does not mean it's a 1st if a player's knee hits 1st

 

[Kenna Kid]

How about high tech referees

 

[slaym]

This should have been done about 10 years ago.

 

[DaveXA]

But it's where the ball is when the KNEE hits the ground , or where a body part goes out of bounds, the 2 have to correlate. Just because the ball crosses the line to gain does not mean it's a 1st if a player's knee hits 1st

You determine when the knee touches the ground, then determine the position of the ball in that point in time. It's not really that hard. Of course, determining when the knee touches the ground isn't always easy to tell.

 

[ItFan]

Test hi tech refs for PI’s!!