By 1977, FAT (Fully Automated Timing) systems had been developed and accepted for race timing and world record recognition.
Automated timing technology dates back to 1928.
The start is recorded with a wire to the starter pistol. Alternate systems start with pistol sound, flash, or smoke.
At the finish line, narrow-frame cameras record at 10, 100, or 1000 pictures per second. As technology has improved, higher frame rates have become realistic. By matching the frame to a runner’s torso, their time can be determined.
Based on the number of frames per second, times can be reported to the tenth, hundredth, and thousandth of a second.
With improved computer technology, reviewing pictures has become easier and quicker.
In addition to running, FAT technology has been used to time skiing, horse racing, dog racing, bicycle racing, rowing, and auto racing. Swim races use a variation with touch pads rather than film.
A touch pad is a variation of an electric-eye time trap that stops a clock when tripped. Those unofficial first-place times displayed immediately at the finish come from those traps and are then verified with pictures.
Hip numbers are used to identify the competitor who crosses the finish line. The original systems were not colorized, which made hip numbers more critical. Recent systems have introduced color to match pictures with uniforms when numbers fall off.
Current prices for a one-camera system range from $10,000 to $20,000.
As sensors have improved, pressure on starting blocks has enabled the recording of reaction times and the detection of false starts when reactions are too quick.
With limited fields, FAT systems can provide reasonably quick results. All competitions with monetary awards use photo technology, even if it’s only for the first part of the finish field. With mass race fields, other technologies had to be developed to record finish times.
Printable stopwatches and bib pull tags were used to record large-field race finishes. However, results for extremely large fields could take hours to report. The advent of portable computers improved reporting times.
In the 1980s, AMD started working with RFID technology to time NASCAR races.