HawkEye

Hawk-Eye is a brand name for a ball-tracking technology and the related services that reconstructs the trajectory of a ball in real time to assist officiating and analytics. It was developed by Hawk-Eye Innovations, and the system uses multiple high-speed cameras placed around a playing area to record the ball’s position from different angles. The collected data are processed to determine the three-dimensional path of the ball and to render a visual representation of its trajectory, which can be used to confirm or challenge on-court calls.

The most widely known application is in tennis, where Hawk-Eye is part of the Electronic Line Calling system. Players can challenge disputed calls, and the system provides a precise judgment on whether the ball landed in or out.

Cricket also uses Hawk-Eye to adjudicate certain decisions such as leg-before-wicket and edges, and to provide broadcast graphics showing the ball’s path. The technology is used in other sports and for performance analysis as well.

Industry and ownership: Hawk-Eye Innovations, the company behind the technology, was acquired by Sony in 2011 and operates within Sony's sports solutions division. The brand name has become closely associated with ball-tracking technology in sports media coverage.

Limitations and reception: While highly accurate, Hawk-Eye is not infallible and depends on camera coverage, calibration, and ball spin. There are occasional disputes about its interpretation, and some leagues use it differently or in combination with human officiating.