Fully automatic time is a form of race timing in which the clock is automatically activated by the starting device, and the finish time is either automatically recorded, or timed by analysis of a photo finish. The system is commonly used in track and field as well as athletic performance testing, horse racing, dog racing, bicycle racing, rowing and auto racing. In these fields a photo finish is used. It is also used in competitive swimming, for which the swimmers themselves record a finish time by touching a touchpad at the end of a race. In order to verify the equipment, or in case of failure, a backup system is usually used in addition to FAT.
A fully automatic timing camera system, on the finish line of the 2007 Pan American Games at João Havelange Olympic Stadium
An Omega FAT device of 1948, containing four chronometers started by a starting gun and stopped by a photocell.
Light beam timing system (the two lenses extended to the right of the stand)
An example of a photographic automatic timed race: Sabine Busch, right, wins with 53.24s and Cornelia Ullrich comes second with 53.58s.
A photo finish occurs in a sporting race when multiple competitors cross the finishing line at nearly the same time. As the naked eye may not be able to determine which of the competitors crossed the line first, a photo or video taken at the finish line may be used for a more accurate check. Photo finishes make it less likely that officials will declare a race a dead heat.
A photo finish record of the first triple dead heat in harness racing: Patchover, Payne Hall and Penny Maid at Freehold Raceway (US), October 1953
1987 400 metre hurdles: Sabine Busch 53.24s, Cornelia Ullrich 53.55s
A dead heat
