SPORTS. MOUNTAIN BIKE RACING
BLE-Based Portable Timing System for Mountain Bike Racing
HARDWARE | FIRMWARE | MOBILE/WEB APPS | EMS MANUFACTURING
Project Overview
Designed a compact and portable timing system for mountain bike racing that operates without relying on internet-based clock synchronization. The system uses BLE beacons and checkpoint scanners to deliver sub-10ms timing accuracy in rugged outdoor environments.
Client Requirement & Objectives
Offline Timing Capability: Traditional timing systems rely on internet synchronization, which is often unavailable in mountainous or remote racing conditions. A standalone system was required.
BLE Beacon Identification: Each racer is assigned a unique BLE beacon that continuously advertises a rider-specific ID for tracking at race checkpoints.
Remote Checkpoint Scanners: Scanners installed at the start, finish, and critical checkpoints are connected to the internet via GSM or satellite networks to collect and upload rider timing data.
Real-Time Result Processing: Timing data from all checkpoints is aggregated on a backend server and displayed in real time on a mobile application for race organizers and spectators.
System Design & Build
Beacon Broadcasting Mechanism: Configured BLE beacons to advertise every 3 milliseconds for high-frequency detection, enabling near real-time timing captures at checkpoints.
Internet-Linked Scanners: Designed scanner devices with GSM/satellite connectivity for reliable data transfer, even from remote locations.
Backend Server & Mobile Integration: Developed a backend system to aggregate and process timing data from various scanners and feed them into a mobile app interface in real time
Lightweight & Portable Hardware: The entire system, including beacons and scanners, was designed to be compact, rugged, and easily deployable across diverse race terrains
Project Tech Stack
Key Challenges & Solutions
Timing Accuracy: Maintaining sub-10ms accuracy without traditional internet time sync was a key challenge. Resolved this by optimizing BLE beacon advertising intervals and scanner polling rates for rapid detection.
Beacon Collision Handling: High-density environments with multiple beacons created signal overlap risks. Introduced randomized short offsets in beacon transmission to reduce collision probability.
Power Efficiency in Remote Scanners: Ensured long battery life for checkpoint scanners by implementing power-saving modes and efficient data batching for uploads.
Client
Succorfish is a technology company that aims to offer precise, dependable, and cost-effective monitoring technology that can operate in the most extreme and remote locations on earth.
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