Live tracking

Live Tracking Hardware

Sporttraxx TRAXXER is today's smallest and most flexible-in-use, sports live tracking device.

Its special enclosures, very tough and fully waterproof, allows an easy installation both on cars/trucks and bikes/quads. On roofs and mudguards. GPS, GPRS, Timing receiver, antennas and Lipo battery are all in one box.

Depending on availability and quality of the GPRS coverage, the transmitted positioning data can be pushed up to 1 second time interval for a real live show. Vehicles are moving on maps and bars, like in a movie. Hardware has internal backup battery for up to 5 hours transmission, when external power supply is missing . Easy diagnostics by external Leds can be performed along the track by marshalls. Technical alarms, like missing power supply from vehicle or network disconnections are managed by the HQ based software. A special radio receiver is included for receiving the timing line crossing info. Incredibly reliable fitting system on vehicles, based on a special high temperature resistant velcro, allows easy fit-on, exchange and removal of the units in shortest time. In case of heavy crash with overrolling of car, the Traxxer gets separated from it, avoiding it being squeezed and damaged and still allowing  an emergency transmission powered by the internal battery.

Live Tracking Software

Google Earth +Google Maps

As mapping background Sporttraxx uses Google Earth 3D and Google Maps. First one shows amazing real geographical environment of the race in virtual 3D view. Same feeling as flying over the race field.

Moreover Google Maps offers full information about location and road names, infrastructures and facilities of the race area.  Coloured customized icons are overlaid on the maps and move according to the settings. In the stages and the road sections. Changing of colours highlight the actual status: running, stopped, crashed, connected/disconnected. And current speed is shown beside each icon.

Beside Google, the best way to survey a sports event now, has become the ABOS (Advancing Bars On Screen) interface

ABOS (Advancing Bars On Screen) interface

On the screens, the vehicles are shown as little icons (green when moving, red if stopped, other colors for additional warnings) running along horizontal lines ( the stages) with intermediate vertical bars highlighting distances, intermediate points, radio and CP points.  From 0 to 100%, no matter how long each stage is.  A check box for each line allows quick selection for the immediate transmissions of Yellow Flag alerts or Call back requests to the racing vehicles.

A totally new way of following the competing vehicles, allows to  know who is actually in a SS, at what speed he is running, who has to be warned if an accident is reported . Start times and Flying finish times are shown on the right column, with the timing option. Depending on number of the competing cars, the length  of a stage, the amount of the stages, a monitor screen can be dedicated to a single stage or to the whole event, as the ABOS is based on multiwindows technology.  ABOS is generally used for surveying Special Stages.  But a full race track, included liasons,  can be managed on a longer line.

The whole Live Tracking solution of Sporttraxx is a Web based architecture. There are no limits in number of operators that take care of the tracking. Each of them with more or less permits. Simply depending  on the weblink that is being used.

The weblinks for HQ are different than the ones released for public tracking view on the event's websites. In that way a much faster update rate is available and the position of service vehicles like O cars, FIVs, Observers, Timekeepers, Ambulances and Helicopters  can be kept confidential.

Communication

Voice

Optional voice feature allows full 2 way voice communication between the HQ and the crew. Via cables or wireless bluetooth devices. Injected into the Intercomm device.

But the fastest and easiest way to communicate with simple LED's and buttons is definitely the CommBox.

CommBox

The CommBox is the heart of the communication between vehicles, the other vehicles and HQ. It features several leds and buttons with backlight for night use. Fitted in front of codriver's seat on the rollcage, it can be easily monitored and reached by both driver and codriver.

Whether if on a road section as Call Back command, or in a SS as a special Yellow Flag command, it is possible to alert a selected crew from HQ. The CommBox visually and acoustically alerts, warns, reminds or asks for communication the crew. The Yellow Flag commands is subject to an aknowledgement wich is released from the car.  SOS and OK buttons fulfill the safety requirements. Additional external beeper and flasher can be connected to the Electrical interface to speedup the reaction time on incoming alerts. Existing accessories from french Sentinel technology can be used with special optional adapter. Also and additional external contact for activating GMW and acknowledge is available on the Electric Interface

The Commbox also features GMW and ADA

Remote control

A special wireless remote control worn by a biker, can release SOS alarm. The additional buttons can be used for acknoledgements or to timestamp passages at PCs or TCs with the exact location coordinates and GPS time.  Up to 100 meters of distance from bike, the remote control is still able to release SOS alarms. That is a must in motorcycle and quads events in case of hard accidents where riders might be laying far from bike.