If you've read the March K-factor, you'll know I'm making an offer to run electronic scoring at up to 3 contests out of D7 after last year's very successful beta test period. Sean and others made mention of it in the K-factor last season and I'd like an opportunity for it to get a little wider exposure while I continue writing up the manual for CDs to be able to use it on their own.

I'll bring everything needed to run the contest scoring -- if you are able to help with travel costs, that's appreciated but not critical.

If you haven't read about it, in a nutshell, the system uses an application running on an iPod touch with a game controller shell. Each maneuver is read to the judge through their own headset or an over-ear (not in-ear) headphone I can provide. Each maneuver starts at a score of 10 and the judge may click one button for -0.5 and another for -1 as they see deductions (click several times for >1 pt deductions), pull a trigger for the next maneuver. There are additional buttons for an instant zero, etc. Upon completion of a sequence the judge may review the scores before saving them which sends them over a local WiFi network to the scoring computer. In most cases, the pilot's scoresheet is printed for them before they have brought their plane back to the pits. Scores are displayed in real-time on an LCD scoreboard until the last round to maintain the traditional excitement around "who won" in a close-fought class.

An older video showing the system in use:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFWp5GcfrGg A slightly newer video showing the system in use with Scott Smith's Master Scoring system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4WQ-lXcB7E PM or respond on this thread with the contest you have in mind, the dates, and how many people usually attend your contest and we'll see if it's compatible with my calendar.

Peter+

Any chance you’ll be in the Northeast in June?

We have Canandaigua (Central NY) June 6[SUP]th[/SUP] and Pocono June 20[SUP]th[/SUP]. If you can get to BDL on the Thursday before, I can get you to the contest and host you for the weekend.
(I hope that's okay with the CD's!)

Thanks Scott! BDL -- Bradley airport in CT? Let me figure out which one I could make work.

Peter+

That's pretty cool Peter


Bill

Scott,

Does that mean you will be at these events?
Peter if you make it I will bring a plane for you to fly! Would love to see the system in person!

Very generous Anthony, but you may have noticed my sign-off on the K-factor articles is "land closer to the ground!" So you may not want me flying your planes :-)


Peter+

Canandaigua (Central NY) June 6 is looking very promising. Who's the CD so I can coordinate?

Peter+

Awesome! Ken Velez is the CD. It's a nice site and they usually have a comfy camper to do scoring in.

I just wanted to report back that we had a very successful event using the Electronic Scribe.

It was awesome watching the scoreboard update FAI standings before the pilot even landed (Ken brought out his 42" TV for the display.) When my wife asked how I was doing, I just needed to send her a link to patternscoring.com, that was cool. And people actually WANTED to judge!

As the last plane landed, final standings were provided for the CD ...zero delay for the awards (much appreciated by those with long rides home.) No one had a longer ride home then Peter with his flight getting in at 3:30 AM...13 hours after leaving the field...and he still wasn't home yet.

Thank you Peter for making the trip out and showing us your system! For sure this is the future of pattern scoring.

Scott