Automatic detection of the passage of cyclists through the control point

Question

Electronics

Good afternoon.

There is the following task:
During a cycling race, it is necessary to record the time of participants passing through control points (in the simplest case, only the finish line). I would like to automate this. Those. so that when a participant passes through a control point, his time and number are automatically recorded. Registration distance - no more than 3m.

There is an idea that this can be solved with the help of some kind of radio sensors (installed on bicycles) and readers installed at the control point.
But the following questions arise: if participant_1 is ahead of participant_2 by a few milliseconds, this needs to be determined. Is this generally possible with radio technology?
2. Are there ready-made solutions?
3. If not, then throw at least any information on the topic. What technologies to pay attention to? Are RFID tags suitable for this task (and if so, which ones (by frequency, type of memory))?

Answer 1

There are ready-made solutions. Participated a couple of weeks ago in a relay marathon. We were given electronic chips, which were attached to sneakers. According to them, the organizers checked that the participant passed all the checkpoints and the time of their passage. There was also an application for smartphones, where it was possible to determine exactly where the runner is on the track.

Answer 2

Here, I found the website of the company that issued these chips www.pentek-timing.at/

Answer 3

The idea with the sensor is correct, the question is what to hang it on. Bicycle and shoe options are not very correct - I did not attend small-scale events, but at large races, changing shoes and vehicles during a race is a common thing.

Answer 4

One of the many solutions with a small technical description ( http://www.ipicosports.com/how-it-works/ )
The sensor is usually attached to the leg. For triathlon, "bracelets" ( chip strap ) are used.

Answer 5

It seems to me that something completely different is needed. And at the same time, I doubt that this is even possible to do (with any technology).
How about radio technology? The signal is simply transmitted through the air, there is no reference to the position and it is simply impossible to track it so accurately. Even if you make yourself a local GPS. Yes, let's say the signal strength differs depending on the distance. But the power of the transmitters themselves and the position of the bicycles relative to the receiver also differ.
At the same time, it is possible that I am behind the times and do not know something. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Answer 6

Use photo finish with any budget high speed camcorder.