Equestrian Sports Timing System: developed by HC Timing

Abstract

The thesis focuses on a sports timing system aimed at the equestrian show jumping community. Such a system has been successfully designed and developed with respect to both hardware and firmware, which started in 2009. Technology implementations never before utilised in other commercially available sports timing systems have been introduced, such as two-way radio communications between chronograph and photocells, wireless firmware bootloading and photocell activation procedures. All features have been designed solely with the equestrian sport in mind, as apposed to competitor multipurpose sport designs. This is author's company business concept. The main objectives have been commercial and educational.A brief introductory explanation of the equestrian sport is presented. Signal integrity and electro magnetic interference phenomena are described. A thorough technical description of the timing device is presented, and likewise of the photocell and scoreboard transceiver. Some important firmware related algorithms are explained. The user manual describes all system features. Finally a brief comparative analysis of other commercially available systems is discussed.