AlUla Falcon Cup uses advanced for timing Falcon races

Monday, January 1, 2024

Advanced tech at AlUla Falcon Cup precisely times falcons over 400m, using laser and camera systems, with prizes up to SAR60 million.

At the AlUla Falcon Cup, sophisticated technology plays a crucial role in determining the winners among the competing falcons in the Al-Melwah event. The event harnesses two advanced timing systems: a primary laser system and a secondary camera-based system. These systems, as highlighted by Saudi timekeeper Rajeh Al-Jehni and his Italian counterpart Francesco Driego, are at the forefront of timing technology. Previously proven in long-distance athletics and Formula One racing, these systems are celebrated for their precision and reliability.

In this competition, organized by the Saudi Falcons Club in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla, the technologies are employed to track the falcons’ velocities over a 400-meter flight. The event boasts prizes totaling SAR60 million. The primary system, a strategically positioned laser at both the start and finish lines, activates as soon as the falcon is released. It accurately records the time and speed from launch to the finish line, instantly displaying these details, including the falcon’s competition number and its position among peers.

The auxiliary system, involving cameras, serves as a backup, verifying the speed and timing as the falcon crosses the finish line. These results are routinely cross-checked with the primary system’s data. In exceptional circumstances, where discrepancies arise, the committee may require a rerun of the race.

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