Smart Line Judgement System: A Novel Technology in Vol-leyball Arbitration

Abstract

Within previous decade, sensitivity to arbitration systems in sports such as soccer, tennis and volleyball has been sharply increased and technicians turned to new technologies to fulfill the demands for a reliable judgement. The main purpose of this study was to address a new method in judgement of presence of ball in the volleyball field in the shortest possible time by manipulation of lines surrounded the field and the ball layer’s structure. A carbon semi- conducting fabric layer designed ball was thrown to the printed circuit board (PCB), which have replaced the surrounded field lines. The ball was thrown in six different angles of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees and with 20 and 40 m.s-1 speed. As soon as the semiconducting ball hits the PCB lines, the LED, which embedded under the PCB, turns on and announce the presence of the ball in the field. In 20 m.s-1 speed, the PCB detected 97.1% of ball presence in the field per 1500 trials six angles. Almost similar, in 40 m.s-1 speed, the accuracy of PCB in hit detection was 97.6% per 1500 trails. Additionally, regardless of ball speed, the more perpendicular the ball hit the PCB line, the accurate detection was made. The smart line judgment system could be a reliable, efficient, and affordable technology that provide referees with an accurate decision and athletes with a faster game flow.