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The Hawk-Eye system, now familiar to sports fans worldwide, was introduced to badminton in 2014 to help officials with line calls and service faults. The technology uses several cameras to track the trajectory of the shuttlecock and display a profile of its most likely path. The cameras are positioned at various points around the court to provide different pieces of footage, which are then triangulated and combined to create a three-dimensional representation of the shuttlecock's trajectory. While Hawk-Eye has been praised for its accuracy, it has also faced criticism and scepticism regarding its margin of error and human intervention.
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What You'll Learn
The use of multiple cameras
The Hawk-Eye system in badminton uses multiple cameras to capture images of the shuttlecock in motion. The number of cameras varies depending on the sport and the specific implementation of the system, but there are typically between six and ten cameras used in badminton. These cameras are positioned at various points around the court to provide different vantage points and angles.
The cameras track the shuttlecock and record its positions at various points. Each camera captures a slightly different view of the shuttlecock's trajectory due to their different positions. The system then uses image triangulation to combine the footage from the multiple cameras and create a three-dimensional representation of the shuttlecock's trajectory. This 3D representation can be replayed from multiple angles, allowing officials to review disputed calls and make more accurate decisions.
The cameras used in the Hawk-Eye system are typically high-speed, high-performance cameras capable of capturing high-quality footage that can be accurately tracked and analysed by the system. The cameras are strategically placed to ensure optimal coverage of the court and to minimise any potential blind spots. In badminton, the cameras may be positioned to focus on the areas around the net and the lines, where close calls are most likely to occur.
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Image triangulation
These cameras do not need to be parallel to each other, but they must be separated by a sufficient distance to ensure several pixels of disparity at the object's location. The intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the cameras are required to solve the triangulation problem. This involves solving for a 3D point (3 unknowns) with 4 equations (2 cameras x 2D coordinates in the image).
By cross-matching and analysing the images captured by the different cameras from their respective vantage points, the system can triangulate the shuttlecock's position in 3D space. This is achieved through a series of calculations that convert 2D coordinates into 3D coordinates. The specific formulas for this conversion are:
- Z = focalbaseline/disparity
- X = zu/focal
- Y = zv/focal
Where:
- Z is the depth or distance from the camera to the object
- Focal is the focal length of the camera in pixels
- Baseline is the horizontal distance between the cameras
- Disparity is the difference in the horizontal position of the object in the two images
- U = column-Cx, Cx~image_width/2 but calibration will give a more precise value
- V = -row+Cy, Cy~image_height/2
Through image triangulation, the system can accurately determine the shuttlecock's initial position, flight or trajectory, and final position from a variety of angles. This information can then be used to generate a graphical representation of the shuttlecock's trajectory and provide instant replay footage for officials to review disputed calls.
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Instant replay
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has long relied on Instant Review Systems (IRS) to resolve confusion on the badminton court. The Hawk-Eye system, introduced in 2014, is the current IRS of choice for BWF tournaments, especially at the highest level.
Hawk-Eye is a computer vision system that uses multiple cameras to track the trajectory of a projectile and record its positions at various points. In badminton, this means tracking the shuttlecock to determine whether it is in or out, whether it touched the net, and to provide shuttlecock speed. The system can also be used to monitor service faults.
Hawk-Eye uses a minimum of six high-speed cameras located at strategic points to capture footage of the shuttlecock from different angles. These cameras can be positioned on the underside of the stadium roof. The footage is then triangulated and combined to create a three-dimensional representation of the shuttlecock's trajectory, which can be replayed from multiple angles. This allows officials to review disputed calls and make more accurate decisions. The system is advertised to be accurate within 2.6 to 3.6 millimetres, although there have been instances where the technology has been called into question.
The instant replay capability of Hawk-Eye is a crucial aspect of the technology, providing officials with a comprehensive view of the action and allowing for more informed decision-making. The system's ability to capture and replay footage from multiple angles ensures that disputed calls can be reviewed thoroughly and impartially.
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Tracking shuttlecock speed
Shuttlecock speed is a crucial factor in ensuring a fair and competitive badminton game. The speed of a shuttlecock can be classified into different categories, with the smaller the number, the slower the shuttlecock flies. For example, a shuttlecock with a speed of 75 will be slower than one with a speed of 78.
The speed of a shuttlecock can be affected by various factors, such as temperature, humidity, altitude, and even the brand of the shuttlecock. Therefore, it is essential to test and adjust the speed before a match to ensure fair gameplay. Players can test the speed of a shuttlecock by standing behind the baseline line on their side of the court and hitting the shuttle firmly with an underarm stroke. If the shuttlecock lands between the markers on the opposing side of the court just before the baseline, it indicates that the shuttlecock has the correct speed.
If the shuttlecock is travelling too slowly, players can adjust the feathers by gently bending the tips inward towards the cork to increase speed. Conversely, if the shuttlecock is travelling too fast, players can bend the feather tips outward to increase air resistance and reduce speed. However, it is important to be cautious when making these adjustments, as excessive bending can cause unstable flight patterns.
In addition to manual adjustments, the Hawk-Eye technology used in badminton can also assist in tracking shuttlecock speed. This technology, owned by Sony, employs multiple cameras positioned at various points around the court to capture the shuttlecock's trajectory and positions at different points in its flight path. By cross-matching images from different angles, Hawk-Eye can provide a comprehensive view of the shuttlecock's speed, landing spot, and interaction with the net. This technology aids officials in making more accurate calls and resolving disputes during the game.
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Accuracy and limitations
Hawk-Eye has been widely acknowledged for improving badminton by helping officials confirm their line calls and make more accurate decisions. The system's accuracy is high enough for it to be the Instant Review provider of the BWF. It has a margin of error of 3.6 mm, which is extraordinarily accurate. The system's graphics implementation capability receives data from at least six high-speed cameras located at strategic points. These cameras capture different pieces of footage that are then triangulated and combined to create a three-dimensional representation of the shuttlecock's trajectory and exact position.
However, it is important to recognise that Hawk-Eye is not infallible and has its limitations. There have been instances in badminton that have questioned the technology's accuracy. For example, in the 2007 Wimbledon Championships, a shot that appeared to be out was called in by Hawk-Eye by 1 mm, a distance smaller than its advertised mean error. This incident sparked criticism from commentators, who argued that the margin of error was too large.
Additionally, the computer-simulated animation used by Hawk-Eye shows the shuttlecock's flight path as diagonal, while in reality, it can sometimes fall almost vertically. The shuttlecock's lightweight and susceptibility to air currents also pose challenges to the system's accuracy. As a result, some people have expressed doubts about the suitability of using the Hawk-Eye tennis program for badminton.
Despite these limitations, Hawk-Eye still provides a valuable tool for officials to make more informed decisions. It adds a layer of accuracy and precision to the calls made by technical officials, contributing to the overall fairness of the game.
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Frequently asked questions
Hawk-Eye technology uses several cameras located in various areas to capture images and footage of the court from different angles. This footage is then used to calculate the trajectory and positions of the shuttlecock, which is then represented graphically. This allows officials to review disputed calls and make more accurate decisions.
Hawk-Eye technology was introduced to badminton to assist officials in making accurate calls, especially when line judges are unsighted. It also helps to monitor service faults. The technology is useful in situations where calling a play is difficult, and it adds more credibility to the decisions made by technical officials.
Hawk-Eye technology in badminton has been reported to have a margin of error of 3.6 mm. However, there have been instances where the technology has been questioned, with some claiming that human intervention on top of camera output can lead to discrepancies.
