Portable lap counter and system

A highly portable vertically-standing RFID tag reader (bollard), comprising:

• a vertical element supporting an internal RFID tuner component above the surface on which the bollard rests;
• a base element providing stability to the vertical element;
• and
• a plurality of components located within the bollard for reading an RFID tag, the components comprising:
• a power system providing power to the powered components of the bollard comprising a power management component, a battery, and an AC connection for connecting to an external AC power source, and wherein the power system is configured to supply power to the bollard from either the external AC power source or the battery;
• a processor for directing and/or executing the functions of the bollard with regard to one or more events in which the bollard is participating;
• a tuner component configured to read RFID tags that come within RFID communication range of the bollard;
• an environmental sensors component for determining environmental conditions affecting the bollard or its components;
• and
• a wireless interface component configured to provide wireless communications between the bollard and an operator console;
• wherein the bollard records information of RFID tags that are read by the tuner component and that correspond to at least one event in which the bollard is participating;
• and
• wherein the bollard reports the recorded information to an operator console via the wireless interface.

An event tracking system for tracking participants in an event using an RFID tag, the event tracking system comprising:

• a plurality of highly portable vertically-standing RFID tag readers (bollards) for recording the RFID tags of event participants;
• an operator console for managing an event and its participants according to the information recorded by the plurality of bollards;
• and
• a base station, wherein the base station is communicatively coupled to the operator console, and wherein the base station is communicatively coupled to at least some of the plurality of bollards via wireless communications.