Aliso Viejo-based Vubiq Inc. and a Carlsbad company jointly will equip all 30 National Hockey League arenas with high-definition cameras for goalie creases.
Vubiq and Palomar Technologies Inc. will equip venues with the GoalCam system, which is comprised of an HD camera and a 60GHz transmitter and receiver to capture scoring action from behind the net for possible rulings by officials during games. Units can be upgraded for functions remotely controlled by Wi-Fi such as camera pans, tilts, radio-frequency antenna pans and tilts, and HD camera focusing, lighting and zoom.
Vubiq specializes in millimeter wave frequency technology that allows devices to receive signals and data at extremely high speeds to produce high-quality video free from transmission interference. Those qualities are important in helping to discern goals scored through a crowd of players and in other game rulings, such as determining if a skate helped the puck into the net or whether the goal box moved during a score.
“Historically, the NHL had difficulties verifying whether or not a close call was an actual goal and lacked a consistent or reliable vetting method,” Chief Executive Adam Button said. “With cameras far overhead positioned in various angles around the rink, the puck could not be video recorded at a close distance or in high resolution as it crossed or did not cross the goal line.”
Goal judges are positioned behind each goal during NHL games and typically make the call by switching on a red flashing light, often without the benefit of slow-motion playback.
—Chris Casacchia
