Magneto-Quasistatic Tracking of an American Football: A Goal-Line Measurement [Measurements Corner]

An American football was tracked using a long-range magneto-quasistatic position and orientation measurement system. A low-weight emitter that emitted a low-frequency quasistatic magnetic field was embedded within an American football. The emitter weighed a total of 26.5 g, which was within the manufacturing tolerance of an American football, and did not alter the dynamics of the ball. Measurements of a person carrying the football along the goal line of an American football field are described, along with a description of the construction of the magneto-quasistatic tracking system. The technique demonstrated measurements with a distance accuracy of 15 cm and an azimuthal orientation accuracy of 2.45° for measurements conducted along the goal line of an American football field.