Howdy all,
Having witnessed the development and implementation of Peter Vogel's electronic scoring system, My old creaky brain came up with a couple more possible ideas for new technology to move pattern forward into the future.

1. Judging remains one of the biggest problem areas in pattern. Impression judging, lack of knowledge or education, personal bias (nah, that does not happen) and other human factors that result in lack of uniformity and fairness in judging are among the issues.
So how about a standardized sensor package that utilizes GPS, inertial feedback or what ever wizardry that some clever persons may come up with, that would transfer from aircraft to aircraft during a contest. Imaging going up to the flight line, flying your flight, then having the results transmitted real time to (Peter Vogel's) scoring system. No long sessions sitting in the judging chair craning your neck and getting sunburned. Fair and unbiased. No more pissing contests or harboring a grudge from that disputed score.

2. A sort of TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) similar to the one used by full size aircraft. Bye Bye mid-airs between big-buck pattern airplanes. Three flight lines? No worries.

Or- maybe both systems integrated into one. We went to the freakin' moon, this could be done as well. Someone has to dream it up.

Robert