Photo of charging World Cup ball goes viral
The soccer balls called “Al Rihla” used in the World Cup in Qatar are so high-tech that they not only need to be filled with air, but also to be charged.
Produced by Adidas, named after the Arabic word for ‘journey’, the ball contains a sensor that measures data such as speed and direction and is used by VAR for ball tracking and offside detection. A photo posted on social media revealed that soccer balls, like smartphones, are charged by plugging them in before the game.
Now soccer balls are far from the days when they were played only after air was pumped. The sensor inside the ball is powered by a small battery, which Adidas explains can last six hours of active use or up to 18 days without use. The sensor, which weighs just 14 grams, provides real-time ball tracking. Thanks to cameras placed around the pitch, it helps referees identify offside and other questionable decisions.
“500 DATA PER SECOND”
Maximillian Schmidt, co-founder and CEO of KINEXON, which makes the sensor, said: “Every time you hit, head butt or even touch the ball, the system sends 500 pieces of data per second.” he said he.
“When a ball goes out of bounds during a match and a new ball is inserted in its place, KINEXON’s back-end system automatically switches to new ball input without human intervention,” explained Schmidt, detailing the amazing technology.
AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT
Franziska Loffelmann, Adidas’ director of football equipment and graphics design, said the ball was at the speed of light: “The new design allows the ball to stay at a significantly higher speed as it moves through the air. “We set out to make the impossible possible with radical innovation, creating the fastest, most accurate FIFA World Cup ball ever created for the sport’s biggest stage in the world.”
“IT’S DIFFICULT FOR THE GOLETERS”
Speaking recently about the World Cup ball, Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet said the extra speed on the ball made his job more difficult. “It’s a very fast ball,” he said.
“LIKE THE BALL WAS FLYING”
English footballer Kieran Trippier said: “Every time I went by, I felt like the ball was a little bit different. But this is not an excuse. I can only say that the balls are a little different. But it’s not hot or anything. It feels like the ball goes flying if you use a little light and a lot of force.” he said he.