On May 20, 2025, China Association of Athletics Association officially released including "Fully Automatic Timing and Finish Line Photography System" in five group standards. "T/CAAB 0003-2025 Athletics Chip Timing and Sensing System" as the core technical specification in the field of timing of track and field events, was formally implemented on May 27, 2025, which marks that China's timing technology for track and field events has entered a new stage of standardization and high performance. 

「The chaos of event timing needs to be standardized」

In recent years, with the explosive growth of marathon, cross-country running, race-walking and other events in China, the frequent occurrence of events timing problems has become a pain point in industry. Loss of race chips timing, uneven products quality, lack of standardized service process have become a common phenomenon.

「Technological development generates the standards demand」

With the wide application of new technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), differential satellite positioning, and inertial measurement units in the field of sports timing, the traditional timing method is undergoing revolutionary change. However, the lack of unified specifications for the application of new technologies has led to huge differences in data collection accuracy, output format and service quality in different events, which cannot meet the current high requirements for timing accuracy, data real-time and system stability.

「The inevitable choice of international integration」

To realize internationalization and professionalization of Chinese athletics, it is necessary to build timing technology standards that are in line with international standards and national conditions. The formulation of the new standard fills this gap, provides a scientific and uniform technical evaluation system for domestic events, and lays the foundation for China's timing technology to go international.

「System definition and architecture clarity」

The standard clearly defines the classification, composition and appearance requirements of the "track and field chip timing sensing system".

「Quantification and Refinement of Performance Requirements」

The standard puts forward specific and quantitative requirements for the key performance indicators of the whole system and each component. These include environmental adaptability (temperature: -20℃-50℃; relative humidity: 20%RH-93%RH), electrical safety, chip performance (sufficient durability and information storage capacity), performance of sensing equipment (mechanical strength: 30,000N load; anti-skid performance: static friction coefficient ≥ 0.5), and performance of data processing unit.

「Standardization of Core Functional Requirements」

The standard puts forward clear provisions on the core functions of the timing system. It stipulates that the reading rate should not be less than 99.9%; the timing resolution should not be less than 0.01s (passive)/0.001s (active); the clock stability of the data processing unit should be ≤2.7ppm (passive)/1.4ppm (active); and the number of times that the timing deviation of the timing equipment (data processing unit) exceeds 0.05s should not be more than 2 times.

1/  Basic Framework: Clear definition and unify concepts

The standard defines the chip timing sensing system applicable to track and field competitions(road races, field races, cross-country races); unifies the definitions of key terms such as "chip(label)""sensing equipment""data processing unit" and so on. Identify the three major components of the system.

2/  Core Requirements: Setting comprehensive quantitative performance and functionality threshold

The standard stipulate the basic specifications for the system in terms of appearance, interfaces, labeling, power supply, etc., which to ensure the safety and ease of use of the equipment. Requirements are made for environmental adaptability to meet the challenges of extreme climates(cold, heat, high humidity) that may be encountered during the event. Reinforce the performance standards of the inductive equipment to ensure that it can withstand the severe tests such as broadcasting trucks crushing and trampling by dense crowds during the event; and effectively prevent the equipment from shifting when the athletes rushing by at high speed, so as to guarantee the accuracy of the timing points and the safety of the equipment itself.

3/  Implementation Guarantee: Establishment of scientific verification methods

In order to verify whether the system really meets all the provisions in the chapter of "Performance and Functional Requirements", specific, operable and standardized test protocols and conditions have been formulated: Environmental Adaptability Test, Load Test, Friction Coefficient Test, Read Rate Test, Resolution Test, Clock Stability Test, and Timing Deviation Test, etc. These scientific and rigorous test methods are the key technical support and guarantee for the effective implementation of the standard and the determination of product compliance.

4/  Closed-loop Application: Standardize the whole process of quality control

Standard build a quality control system covering the entire life cycle of the product through the "inspection rules" and "marking, packaging, transportation and storage" requirements. "Inspection rules" provide for factory inspection and type inspection projects, sampling program and pass judgment. "Marking, packaging, transportation and storage" ensure that the quality of product circulation can be controlled, forming a closed-loop quality management from production to application.

1/  Unified industry specifications: Provide an authoritative and unified technical basis for designing, producing, testing, checking and accepting of the chip timing sensing system, end the status quo of the industry with no standard to follow or fuzzy standards.

2/  Enhance product quality and reliability: By setting clear and quantitative performance and function thresholds, manufacturers will be prompted to improve their technical level, eliminate products that do not meet the requirements, and improve the quality and reliability of domestic timing systems as a whole.

3/  Guarantee the fairness and impartiality of the event: High reading rate, high resolution, high clock stability and other core requirements, minimizing the possibility of timing errors and omissions, to ensure each athlete's results are accurate, and maintain the fairness and credibility of sports competition.

4/  Supporting the efficient operation of the event: The systematic specification helps to improve the compatibility and integration efficiency between different systems, facilitates the event organizers to carry out system selecting, deploying and maintaining, which guarantees the event running smoothly.

5/  Conformity with international standards: The standard is formulated with reference to international advanced experience, and its strict technical requirements help the domestic event timing level to be in line with the international standard and enhance the international recognition of China's track and field events.

As one of the main drafting units of the standard, Feibot Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. has participated in the research, discussion and formulation, integrated our many years of technical accumulation and practical experience in the field of timekeeping into the standard, and contributed its professional strength in the design of the system architecture, the setting of performance indicators and the verification of the test methods.

Feibot is a sports technology company, its products including events timing equipment: F800 UHF Device, A400 Active Device, FMA2 UHF Mat Antenna, FB2 Mechanical Clock, etc.; events service software: Run8 Cloud, Feibot Workbench, etc., as well as on-site events services. The products developed by the company are supplied globally, and we have established sales networks with more than 60 countries and regions, and the quality has been widely praised by customers. Since 2015, we have provided technical products and services for thousands of marathons and road races around the world.

Feibot is deeply engaged in the field of sports event timing and is committed to bringing quality services to customers with advanced technology and rigorous attitude. For more information about Feibot products, please enter the official website for details.