Sports – Application of Vision Systems
The 2010 FIFA World Cup, Round of 16, Germany vs. England, 39th minute, with Germany leading 2-1: Frank Lampard’s perfectly legitimate goal was disallowed. The reason? The referee failed to notice the ball crossing the goal line. After the shot, the ball hit the crossbar, landed clearly behind the line, and then bounced out of the goal. If “goal-line technology” had been used back then, who knows how the rest of the tournament would have unfolded.
The aforementioned example is just one of many applications that vision systems can find in the broad field of sports. The “queen” of motorsport, Formula 1, is probably the most technologically advanced form of competition. Race cars and their entire infrastructure are systems bristling with various sensors, providing detailed information about every parameter. We are starting to observe a similar trend in other sports as well. Of course, it would be difficult to equip a human with as many sensors as a Formula 1 car, but the entire infrastructure is moving in that direction. Vision systems play a huge part in this. Machine vision has the functionality to replace traditional sensors. For example, if we want to analyze an athlete’s movement, we can either attach several sensors to their skin to provide information about their position in space, or we can use a camera system that gives the same information. The advantage of machine vision is that it does not affect the athlete themselves; they can perform fully natural, unhindered movements.
Modern sports arenas are technology-laden facilities. Elements such as camera systems on the stadium’s crown are slowly becoming standard.
A well-thought-out and well-planned system design can prove fruitful in fair adjudication of matches, improving training techniques, and enhancing the quality of television broadcasts. The progress in electronics and image processing techniques using advanced algorithms allows for a more comprehensive approach to many complex issues in sports each year.
Machine Vision in the Service of Fair Play
In recent years, several high-profile incidents of results being distorted by referee errors in various sports, such as the 2010 World Cup case mentioned at the beginning, have created extremely strong pressure from fans to introduce advanced technologies into the world of sports. This idea was particularly unpopular in soccer, but even there, this trend is slowly changing. An example is the goal-line technology system, which has been in use for several years, monitoring whether the ball crosses the goal line. This system consists of cameras installed around the pitch, constantly positioning the ball’s location in space. If the ball crosses the goal line with its entire circumference, it sends a signal to the referee indicating a goal. Another example is the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) replay system. If the referee is unsure how to react to a controversial incident during a match, they can use video footage provided by a system of cameras tracking events on the field. However, it must be remembered that even with the best camera angle and image quality, the final decision is still made by a human.
In many sports, vision solutions have been helping officiate matches for decades. Examples include tennis, badminton, and volleyball. Surely no tennis player can imagine a major tournament where one couldn’t use “challenge” systems. These are based on a vision system composed of cameras mounted around the court, providing precise information about the tennis ball’s position on the court. If a tennis player believes the referee made an incorrect decision, they can request a review. Based on the collected data, an animated simulation of the ball’s flight and its precise landing spot is presented. The system plays an identical role in badminton.
An example of machine vision use in tennis. A camera system allows for precise recreation of the ball’s trajectory and 3D visualization.
Advanced Training with Vision Systems
Beyond the fairness of being judged, athletes can also derive other benefits from using vision systems. The primary advantage is the ability to thoroughly analyze every situation, both in terms of applied strategy in team sports and the movement analysis of the athlete themselves. Understanding every movement “inside out” allows conclusions to be drawn from mistakes and, based on them, to tailor further training.
For several years now, an innovative set of cameras suspended along the length of the pool has been used in swimming competitions. In conjunction with advanced image processing algorithms, this system collects biomechanical data about athletes, such as reaction time, speed, turns, and stroke frequency.
Modern technology serving to maximize training effects. A camera system enables precise analysis of every movement and behavior, allowing athletes to become even better and shave off additional fractions of a second.
Benefits for the Viewer
Each year, the quality of broadcasts from sporting events increases, both in terms of image resolution and effective action shots. This is achieved through an increasing number of cameras installed in sports arenas and increasingly advanced algorithms. Ball tracking algorithms can ensure that cameras are always directed where an interesting situation is unfolding. Sporting events are also increasingly tracked by high-speed cameras, which allow for a “slow motion” effect. Watching spectacular plays and brutal fouls in slow motion can be a real treat for the viewer. Similarly, tennis “challenges” not only serve to fairly resolve matches but also provide interesting visual experiences. A properly configured vision system can deliver an image superior to what can be experienced live. For two years now, the NFL has used a camera system that allows viewers to watch replays in 360 degrees. Such a solution offers both visual benefits and interesting training material. Of course, nothing can replace the stadium atmosphere, but camera angles and special effects will provide better views than sitting in the twentieth row, in the corner of the stadium.
Today, the level of sports competition is so high that victory can be decided by fractions of a second or millimeters. A modern athlete must be as close to perfection in every element as possible, so that all combined allow them to shave off precisely that fraction of time. Individual sports centers invest heavily in the latest technology to take the most comprehensive approach to training. This trend has been strong for several years, and there is no indication that its growth will be inhibited. Furthermore, sports arenas themselves, with their systems and technology, can even be compared to production halls rather than ordinary buildings.
