Have you ever wondered how commentators can give sports fans accurate details of ball speed and trajectory in tennis and cricket? Or how golfers correct their shots using technology? The answer lies with South African company EDH, based in the Stellenbosch TechnoPark, Western Cape.
Over the past 15 years EDH has developed a range of sophisticated 3D tracking radar systems that are used worldwide. The company's first systems were for the military, based on phased array technology that measured projectiles in flight up to distances of 25km.
In 1996 EDH launched its sports products worldwide, based on similar technology. The first system in 1996, called EDH Speedster, was developed to measure the speed of bowling for cricket. This was followed by EDH RaquetRadar, a tennis serve system. The EDH golf system was launched under the name FlightScope in 2003.
Although these systems are based on the same technology, they have been refined and further developed to deliver the individual and detailed information on ball speeds and trajectories required by each sport.
EDH is particularly enthusiastic about its range of services offered to golfers, practice ranges and golf clubs. The EDH FlightScope family uses EDH tracking and a patented phased array flight-tracking sensor, plus world-leading software and graphics. These systems are also in demand worldwide as part of the About Golf indoor golf simulator.
The FlightScope system helps golfers practise and improve their shots as they see the results ball by ball. Additional screens will show trajectory, grouping and averages for shots made. Each member of the product family is capable of tracking the golf balls to produce accurate data on:
* Carry distance
* Ball launch velocity
* Club head speed
* Vertical and horizontal launch angles
* Elevation and direction angles along entire trajectory
* Distance, height and velocity profile for entire trajectory
* Ball spin
* Aerodynamic coefficients
The EDH Tennis Simulator is another innovation that allows tennis players to practise their serve, giving them accurate information on ball speed and trajectory. Since 2002 EDH has supplied Wimbledon Championships with the EDH Tennis Systems and since 2003, EDH has supplied scoring, serve speed and direction for the world group of Davis Cup and Fed Cup events. EDH is yet another local innovator that is also a member of the worldwide network for ICTE represented by the dti Savant programme. For further information on the dti Savant, click onto http://www.savant.co.za.
Click onto http://www.edhsport.co.za for information on sporting systems and http://www.edh.co.za for other EDH innovations.
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