The technology shaping the 2014 World Cup

The World Cup kicks off in São Paulo, Brazil today – and everyone in the office is frantically placing bets on who will win what match and vexing over whether or not the England team will let us down again.

While the limelight will undoubtedly be on Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and a host of other star players over the coming weeks, there's a wealth of secret engineering that deserves some merit too.



From hi-tech goal line technology to tell us if the ball really did cross the line, to advanced broadcast camera systems that will ensure viewers witness every spectacular 40 yard thunderbolt in all its glory – a raft of innovation is helping make Brazil 2014 the most technologically advanced World Cup ever.



Here, we preview three exciting technologies that have got our attention...



It's a goal! (Or is it?)

First up is the introduction of goal line technology – a long sought-after innovation that will ensure the nation's living rooms never again descend into the carnage witnessed during the last World Cup.



Trouble flared as disgusted fans realised that match officials, in England's first round knockout match against Germany, hadn't seen Frank Lampard's shot bounce off the underside of the bar and at least two yards behind the goal line. Slippers, biscuits and even China ornaments travelled like Exocet missiles towards the TV in furious remonstration over the goal that never was. Germany went onto thrash England 4 v 1 and the flat-screen has had an enormous divot, in our house at least, ever since.







Goal Control will ensure the incident is not repeated in Brazil. The 4D system uses 14 high speed cameras connected to a powerful image processing computer to categorically determine whether the ball crossed the line. This will be the first ever World Cup to feature goal line technology. And that means you can bet your life on some journeymen championship player shanking one of the underside of the bar and millimetres over the line against England.



Seven cameras monitor each goal and are placed in a variety of positions on the pitch and in the stadium roof or gantry. A computer system processes the footage and maps the ball's position to the nearest 5mm with all other objects like players and match officials screened out. The goal line is a 'virtual curtain' according to Goal Control's designers, and when the ball breaches the line it triggers vibration on the referee's watch as well as a message saying: 'goal'. The system can make a ruling within seconds thanks to the high speed cameras which take up to 500 frames a second and an even higher speed processor which can interpret this data at 4.5GB per second.



More than just a football

Incorporating all the vivid colours of Brazil – the Brazuca is the official ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.



While putting six cameras inside it might sound like a sure-fire way to inflict a spate of metatarsal injuries, Adidas has done just that and developed a feet-friendly customised version that provides 360 degree footage of the action.







Brazucam makes innovations like playercam and 3D seem positively prehistoric by providing the viewer with a ball's eye view of every pass, shot and save. Adidas has developed the ball as football's 21st century answer to the Olympic torch. Brazucam is being passed across all 32 qualifying nations for the World Cup with a series of YouTube videos covering its journey (www.youtube.com/adidasfootballtv).



Brazucam features six HD cameras and a custom-engineered internal structure with a hand-applied covering. To keep the footage from wobbling as players thwack the ball at more than 80mph. This is achieved by custom image stabilisation software that is at the cutting edge of computer vision.



Image stabilisation software can be found in many smartphones and camcorders. In essence, the technique works by estimating the level of vibration and correcting it. There are several technologies employed by cameras. One is MEMS gyroscopes, which measure camera rotations. The data is interpreted by a processor, which adjusts video images to account for the margin of error. A downside of the compensatory technique is that you are left with blank areas where there's no video image data. The system crops these blackspots, where the footage is unusable, which can result in tighter shots or poorer resolution.



Video stabilisation can also be designed into the optics of a camera. Sensors allow the lens can adjust its position to compensate for up and down movements. The technique is performed in real-time with adjustments made several thousand times every second.



Alongside the camera tech, a great deal of materials engineering also went into making the Brazuca. Adidas enlisted the help of Bayer MaterialScience to give the football the perfect shape and make sure it keeps its bounce during those all-important games.







The ball comprises five layers based on Impranil polyurethane raw materials. One of the layers is a polyurethane foam layer, around 1mm thick, which is made up of millions of gas-filled microspheres. This foam is inherently elastic so that even after being kicked hundreds of times, the Brazuca immediately returns to its original shape.



While most footballs consist of 12, 16 or even 32 panels, the Brazuca is made up of only six. This perfect symmetry is not only an outstanding geometric achievement, it also has major advantages: The more panels used to cover the surface, the more seams there are that could absorb moisture. Fewer sections means that the ball is more durable and more resistant to the elements.



Smile, you're on camera

Wales may not have reached the World Cup since the glory days of 1958, but the land of my fathers will be represented in the Maracana come the final in July. Around 60% of the cameras being used to film the action have been manufactured at Sony UK Technology Centre in Pencoed, South Wales. Camera models will bring us the action in HD and all new 4K.







The team at Sony UK Technology Centre will be testing and configuring all of the camera and broadcast kit. Over 50 individual checks will be made to each piece of equipment, of which nearly 2,000 need to be tested and configured, says Steve Dalton, MD of Sony, Pencoed.



Engineers will test the camera's audio, video output and intercom and will ensure each piece of equipment is customised and standardised to the necessary requirements, Dalton says: "Our engineers' experience of working in broadcast and professional camera assembly and production testing has meant they are best equipped to configure the equipment to include camera adjustment, setup, and software and mechanical design."

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