DIGITAL-OPTICAL OBJECT TRACKER

A digital-optical tracking device and methods for tracking and timing swimmers are disclosed. The digital-optical tracking device is waterproof and submersible, and includes a stereo optical system that takes digital stereo images of an underwater region. The stereo optical system includes at least two optical elements, each of which forms an image in the stereo image. The tracking methods involve repeatedly determining distances to swimmers by measuring distances between stereo copies of the swimmers in successive, time-stamped stereo images. The methods may use predictive algorithms to determine regions of interest within the stereo images in which the swimmers are likely to be found. Once tracking data is established, it is displayed to the swimmers during their workouts and may be shared among multiple trackers in a peer-to-peer configuration, saved for later reference, and sent to a coach station or stations for real-time analysis.