[turnipsock (OP)]

Now that wimbers is upon us, does anybody understand how Hawk-Eye works?

[DoctorBeaver]

Yes. The people who designed it know how it works. Or, more specifically, http://www.hawkeyeinnovations.co.uk/

From Wikipedia...

All Hawk-Eye systems are based on the principles of triangulation using the visual images and timing data provided by high speed video cameras located at different locations and angles. Rapid processing of the video feeds means that information can be provided to television viewers or coaching staff in near real time. The pure tracking system is combined with a backend database and archiving capabilities so that it is possible to extract and analyse trends and statistics about individual players, games or ball to ball comparisons etc. Another of Hawk-Eye's key features is that of prediction. The detailed trajectory information already gained from the image processing techniques can be fed into a realistic physical model to provide a highly accurate extrapolation of the likely continuation of the ball's trajectory.

[turnipsock (OP)]

I think its these big grey cameras you see dotted around the centre court. There seems to be a lot of factors involved, such as condtion of the balls and air density.

[DoctorBeaver]

Yeah, it's complicated.