Two Mind blowing features of FIFA World Cup 2014
Understanding the science behind the game changer technology of the beautiful game.
Technology will get a new meaning in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil as the game will be free of human error, wrong perceptions and more awesome!
Was it a goal? Did the ball touch his hand? Who tackled whom? It will all be now crystal clear with the help of tech toys attending the global event.
And so, with this World Cup fever heating up; it’s time for you to find out just how much you already know about the science behind new technologies implemented in this legendary game.
Goal-Line Technology
In 1966 world cup final between England and Germany, when a goal named the ‘Wembley-Tor’missed by the referee gave England the winning edge with a 3-2 it was addressed apocryphal!
The complete course of the game changes when the entire stadium sees the goal but the referee misses to see the ball cross the goal line. Thousands are aggravated when the goal is not given. And when the referee awards the goal, defending side doesn’t support the decision!
This year, for the first time, new technology is been introduced in an attempt to overcome human error with mathematical certainty. It is called the Goal line technology. And the two main components of this technology are Hawk-eye and GoalRef.
There are seven flexible cameras attached on the roof of the stadium focusing the goal. These cameras process the image and identify the areas which are NOT the ball. They track the ball only when it comes in their range and as soon as a goal is scored, the outcome is relayed to the referee’s wrist through a Hawk eye watch.
GoalRef: It is a passive electronic circuit embedded in the ball that surrounds it with a weak magnetic field. It detects the changes that occur behind the goal line with the coils embedded in the goal post frame. Because of its low frequency magnetic field, it forms a radio equivalent of light curtain that records the difference in magnetic field. This determines whether or not a goal was scored. And immediately transmits the radio signal on referee’s wristwatch.
Hawkeye: It works on the principle of triangulation that uses images, time captured by high speed cameras to track the ball in motion. It calculates the ball location in each frame by identifying the pixels in the images captured by these HD cameras. Hawkeye also records the ball’s flight path and stores it in a database that is used to create a graphic image of the flight path to identify statistics and trends. It ensures that every goal scored has actually crossed the line and that no ball near the line is incorrectly declared a goal if it has not.
Brazuca
It’s round, it’s fast and it hit the world stage this month with a bang. Brazuca means the Brazilian way of life. Brazuca ball is to be used in the mega event will come with six in-built HD cameras capturing 360 degree view of the on-field action.
Encapsulating everything that’s Brazil and its passion for the game, Brazuca has shades of blue, orange and green, and stars on it reflecting the vibrancy and flair associated with this beautiful game.
Physics of Brazuca:
It is the epitome of awesomeness in a ball. It is made of the latest technology unlike other balls which are traditionally stitched. Brazuca has six interlocking polyurethane patches that are thermally-bonded together with a surface covered in thousands of small bumps, called pimples, creating maximum grip and speed.
The lesser the number of panels the lesser the seams making the surface smooth which allows the ball to pick up speed before knuckling. But this ball has a rough surface than the balls which played the world cup.
The rougher texture would also help solve other issues, like when you kick the ball there is more friction between the boot and the ball.
Like golf ball has a rough surface and travels farthest, Brazuca flies through air. This means, players don’t need to apply high drag force. The ball will travel long distance with a low drag force!
So there it is! From the first kick to the winning goal, today when the World Cup 2014 kicks off, you won’t feel mysterious and like an alien to the latest technology that has been implemented. It is an unpredictable and unique game, full of moments that pump up testosterone level and thrill you beyond imagination. It’s awesome. It is enjoyable. It is our game. It is all in one rhythm.
I wrote this post on Function Space before publishing it here!