Low-Tech But Effective: Goal-Line Technology Uses Cameras, Not Sensors

By Rain Noe - June 16, 2014

in Tech

No matter what your sport is, no one likes referees, least of all the fans. To the fans, when a player makes an error it's bad enough—but when the ref makes an error, it's unforgivable. Which is why sports organizations will continue turning to technology in the quest to provide irrefutable judgments. One day referees will be able to cross dark parking lots and make it to their cars without fear.

During the recent Australia vs. Chile World Cup match, I watched his play happen in real-time, with Australian defender Alex Wilkinson attempting to clear the ball as it rolls towards their goal:

Without the benefit of instant replay, a better camera angle or the freeze-frame techniques used above, it would be easy to assume that the ball crossed the line. But FIFA's newly-incorporated Goal Line Technology meant it wasn't an issue. The ball did not cross the line, and this was confirmed because an array of seven cameras monitoring the goal and hooked up to a computer were able to accurately track the ball's precise position.

Yes, it's old-fashioned 2D-recording cameras, and not sensors embedded within the ball, that have become the emerging goal-sensing technology. It's pretty cool how it works, check it out:

That being said, human error can still find a way to muck this up. In the France vs. Honduras game, whoever's in charge of programming the stadium screen first broadcast the "No goal" image—swiftly followed by the "Goal" image. Fans were not amused.

 

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Without the benefit of instant replay, a better camera angle or the freeze-frame techniques used above, it would be easy to assume that the ball crossed the line. But FIFA's newly-incorporated Goal Line Technology meant it wasn't an issue. The ball did not cross the line, and this was confirmed because an array of seven cameras monitoring the goal and hooked up to a computer were able to accurately track the ball's precise position.

Yes, it's old-fashioned 2D-recording cameras, and not sensors embedded within the ball, that have become the emerging goal-sensing technology. It's pretty cool how it works, check it out:

That being said, human error can still find a way to muck this up. In the France vs. Honduras game, whoever's in charge of programming the stadium screen first broadcast the \"No goal\" image—swiftly followed by the \"Goal\" image. Fans were not amused.

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