Auto-calibrating force and direction sensing scoring system for fencing

A force sensor tip for a fencing weapon for use in fencing competition comprising

• a substantially tubular housing adapted for mounting on a distal end of an elongated fencing weapon and having
• a movable plunger extending axially in the housing, a first sensor including an electrically conductive elastomeric material positioned to be compressed by axial movement of the plunger so the resistance of the first sensor's elastomeric material decreases to sense axial touches,
• a second sensor including electrically conductive elastomeric material positioned to be compressed by radial movement of the plunger so the resistance of the second sensor' elastomeric material decreases to sense radial touches, and
• an electrical connection to a scoring box to communicate touches sensed by the sensors.

A method of scoring touches in fencing comprising

• a. electrically sensing touches between a tip of a fencing weapon and a lamé,
• b. automatically discriminating between touches that have a force component primarily in the direction of the weapon's elongation and touches with a force component primarily transverse to the weapon's elongation by separately sensing forces primarily in the direction of the weapon's elongation and forces primarily transverse to the weapon's elongation;
• and
• c. electrically transmitting the electrically sensed touches to a scoring box.