The radar speed gun in cricket is a device used to measure the speed of moving objects. John L. Barker Sr. and Ben Midlock invented it. In cricket, they use it to measure the rate of the cricket ball in a similar way as the speed of the motor vehicle is calculated.
Initially, the automatic signal was approached by Grumman Aircraft Corporation to solve the specific problem of terrestrial landing gear damage on the now-legendary PBY Cataline aircraft.
Midlock and Barker cobbled a Doppler radar unit from coffee cans soldered shut to make microwave resonators. The system was tested by the Connecticut State Police in Glastonbury, Connecticut, in 1947, initially for traffic issuing warnings and surveys to drivers for excessive speed.
The state police began to issue speeding tickets based on the speed recorded by the radar device in February 1947. Radar was also used in Garden city, New York, in 1948.
Speed Gun In Cricket Explained
How are some bowlers named fast bowlers? On what scale? These were measured in terms of their speed in bowling. Now how can this be measured? Since 1999, the radar speed gun has been used in cricket to calculate the speed of a ball.
Speed guns in cricket are now extensively used in international matches and leagues. Speed guns are mounted on a pole and placed right next to the sight screen on the ground. Also, we will see the detailed work on the radar gun in cricket balls, measuring ball speed, how the radar speed gun works, and its cost in this article.
The radar speed gun is a device that measures the speed of the ball from one end of the pitch to the other. It calculates the speed at which a bowler delivers the ball and has been used regularly in cricket since 1999.
The speed gun technology was initially invented for lawn tennis to calculate the rate of service made by players. This device transmits a microwave beam toward the entire distance of the pitch and detects any object’s movements along with the pitch.
Because of the speed gun, players and spectators can see the speed of the ball on the screen right away. Measuring ball speed with a speed gun in cricket is similar to measuring the speed of a moving car. The speed-measuring equipment consists of both a receiver and a transmitter.
Official sportspeople purchase radar guns for sale because of their accurate speed measurement. It measures speed by sending a radio wave reflected by the object along with its path, which is a cricket ball. The speed gun in cricket applies the Doppler Effect principle and calculates the ball’s speed.
Features Of Speed Gun
- The radar speed gun for a cricket ball helps calculate the speed of the ball bowled by a bowler.
- The software is a critical part of the speed gun, and it examines the speed, processes the data coming through the radar, and then calculates the final speed.
- Accurate measurement of the speed.
- Immediate recording of speed as the ball passes the gun, and players can immediately see the speed on the screen.
Drawbacks Of Speed Gun
- The antenna has a radar diameter of 2 inches (5.1cm). That produces beam energy in the form of a cone whose angle is 22 degrees surrounding the line of sight and 44 degrees in total width.
- This central lobe region extends from 22 degrees to 66 degrees away from the line of sight.
- This is called the side lobe, and the intensity in this region is low, approximately 20 times less than the intensity in the main lobe.
- That is equivalent to a decrease of 13db inside the lobe.
- When we try to analyze the target’s velocity using a radar speed gun, the radar gun measures not only the rate of the target but also the other multiple objects because of the side lobe.
- When more than one moving object is within the main and side lobe’s field view, the gun can measure the velocity of any one of the moving objects and give us false readings of the actual target velocity.
Where Is The Speed Gun In Cricket Placed?
The radar speed gun in cricket is placed on a high pillar near the sight screen, mounted on it, and positioned next to the sight screen. From this, the speed gun sends radio waves in the direction of the pitch, and the device relays a beam from a radar head.
That detects the movement across the entire length of the pitch, and a small pipe is used to aim the beam accurately. The whole process runs on microwave technology and calculates the speed of any object on the pitch.
How Does Speed Gun Work In Cricket?
Radar speed gun is built on the principle of the Doppler effect. It causes the received frequency of a source to differ from the sent frequency if a motion increases or decreases the distance between the source and the receiver.
This effect is entirely observable as a variation in the pitch of sound between a moving source and a stationary observer and has some rules to be followed.
#1 Doppler Effect
Speed guns use Doppler effect radar to perform speed measurements. Radar speed guns consist of a radio transmitter and receiver that send out a radio signal in a narrow beam and then receive the signal back after it bounces off the target ball.
In cricket, when the ball moves toward or away from the gun, the frequency of the reflected radio waves when they come back differs from the transmitted waves due to the Doppler effect.
When the ball approaches the radar, the frequency of the return waves is greater than the transmitted waves. When the ball moves away, the frequency will be leg bye lower. The radar gun will calculate the speed of the ball from which the waves have been bounced from the difference.
#2 Stationary Radar
After receiving the return waves, a signal with a frequency equal to this difference is created by mixing the radio signal received with a little of the transmitted signal. Just like the two musical notes played together, make a beat note at the difference in frequency between them.
They create a beat signal when those two signals are mixed. An electrical circuit measures this frequency using a digital counter to count the number of cycles in a fixed time. That displays the number on a digital display as the ball’s speed.
When this type of speed gun measures the difference in speed between a target and the gun itself, it must be stationary to give a correct reading.
#3 Moving Radar
The radar antenna receives reflected from target objects and stationary background objects such as cricket ground surfaces, lights, etc.
It compares the target signal with this background signal instead of comparing the frequency of the signal reflected from the target with the transmitted signal. The frequency difference between these two signals gives the actual speed of the ball.
#4 Design Considerations
The radar antenna receives reflected signals from target objects and stationary background objects such as cricket ground surfaces, lights, etc.
Radar guns operating using the X band frequency range are becoming less common because they produce an intense and easily detectable beam. Most automatic doors utilize radio waves in the X-band range, possibly affecting radar readings.
Science Of Radar Speed Gun In Cricket
Measuring the velocity of a cricket ball through radar or a speed gun in cricket is like measuring the speed of a moving car. This technique was discovered by John Baker in 1947. Cricket speed guns work on the principle of the doppler effect.
This speed gun has a receiver and transmitter, which calculates any object’s speed on the pitch. Radar guns usually work on a similar principle to sonar. It catches the echo of radio waves as the ball travels through the air, which uses a principle called doppler shift.
The information obtained through radar speed guns is inserted into image processing software, which analyzes the ball between other objects on the pitch and displays the speed of the ball.
Cost Of Speed Gun In Cricket In India
Radar speed gun price in India starts from Rs.16,000. There are many variations in price available in radar speed guns according to their features. It is a type of digital tachometer that accurately measures the ball’s speed.
The radar gun at a price of Rs.17,425 in the Bushnell brand had more reviews and customers. It received a 4.3 rating on Amazon. This velocity radar speed gun uses the best digital technology and digital signal processing to provide accurate real-time measurement.
It has,
- High Strength.
- Easy To Use.
- Good Quality.
Since microwaves are a strong force that can penetrate all weather conditions, wind speed has no bearing on the radar speed gun in cricket. If the device is set up correctly, the margin error is less than 1 kph, and there should be no variation in speeds between geographical regions.
Speed Gun In Cricket FAQ
1. What is the price of a radar speed gun?
Radar speed gun is available from Rs.17,425.
2. Where did they fix the speed gun in cricket?
A radar speed gun in cricket is placed on a high pillar near the sight screen.
3. Does the speed gun have an accurate ball speed calculator?
It is accurate to within one mph up to 60 mph and within 3% over this.
4. How do you measure a radar speed gun?
The gun sends out a stream of radar pulses, a small proportion of which bounce off the ball and are received back at the gun. The time between pulses sent is known, and the time between pulses received is compared and measured.
Conclusion – Speed Gun In Cricket
The radar speed gun is accurate to within one mph up to 60 mph and within 3% over this. The laser could be 2.7 mph out at 90 mph. Speed guns in cricket use a series of radar pulses on a small leather ball with a circumference of around 22 cm.
Radar speed guns in cricket allow players, coaches, and fans to calculate and display their bowling speed. The velocities of cricket bowlers vary between 40 and 100 mph and 64 and 161 km/h.
A bowler in the 40–60 mph range would be said to be a slow bowler in professional cricket. A bowler in the 60–80 mph range is a medium-pace bowler, and a bowler 80 mph + is a fast bowler.
