Take Off
Take Off
Take Off is an electronic long jump board referee which uses embedded pressure sensors &LEDs to change the colour of the board depending on whether the jump was fair or a foul.
This project focuses on improving the accuracy, affordability, and interactivity of long jump refereeing by integrating simple electronics into traditional equipment. In India, fouls are often judged manually using sand or plasticine, which can be inconsistent, or through expensive laser-based systems that are inaccessible for most events. My goal was to combine the precision of electronic detection with the simplicity and low cost of manual methods to create a reliable and inclusive solution.
Project Journey
The final design embedded pressure sensors and LEDs into the jump board to instantly indicate whether a jump was clean or foul. The system used programmed delays and pressure thresholds to ensure accurate readings, while the colored LED feedback enhanced visibility for nighttime events. The prototype received positive feedback from the university’s track and field team and was featured in India’s official Sport Engineering Association newsletter. This group academic project was completed at BITS Pilani under Prof. M.S. Dasgupta, with Dr. Abheek Gupta as a collaborator, while I led the Arduino programming and product design.