Wireless Fencing
 This is currently a project
under development so it might actually be premature to call it a solution. However, we have reached the hardware prototype stage and are quite optimistic.
The problem:
Fencing, the art of sword fighting, comes in three forms. Foil, Epee and Saber. Each is very fast paced. Scoring, due to
the the high speed of the sport, is done electronicly. Epee is the most free form. Hitting an opponent anywhere results in a “touch” or point. In foil, only the upper body, not including the
arms is a valid target and in saber anything above the waist.
The tips of the foil and epee are pressure sensitive, the edge cannot be used for scoring, while the saber uses the edge and
the tip. Epee requires no additional equipment, while the foil and saber competitor use a conductive “lamee” that is also wired to the scoring system.
The basic methods of operation is that if the tip is pressed and in contact with a valid target area a light is lit to indicate a valid
touch. Off target hits are also registered. Of course if the tip hits the opponents blade or guard there neither a hit or an off center alert should register. For the epeeist, hitting the tip on
the piste (the floor) should also not generate a touch.
The result is that the weapons, masks and lames must be connected via wires to a machine that arbitrates the rules. To
avoid getting in the way, the wires are linked through winding reels that automatically take up slack and pay out cord to keep the connection to the fencer.
For a TV crew trying to film this during the Olympics these wires are not esoterically pleasing nor are they easy to film around.
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