Robots will help spectators with special needs during Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Human efforts have been reduced firmly ever since robotics has enrooted its significance in sports. It is about time that robots take over considerably trivial tasks which were originally performed by human labor. First ever robot helpers are now going to provide assistance to the disabled spectators in 2020 Olympics in Tokyo to guarantee them an experience of a lifetime, stated by the organising committee. This could be a breakthrough in robotic technology considering the human friendly insight and above the mark performance.
Although this venture will perform tasks as simple as delivering food to people and guiding the spectators to their respective seats, its importance cannot be undermined. Tokyo 2020 Robot Project’s Hirohisa Hirukawa believes that this could very well prove to be an exciting opportunity to showcase the Japanese robot tech in front of the world and to enable people to witness their ability to help people.
Robot Project is going to be a joint application of two robot technologies called Human Support Robot (HSR) which was first displayed in 2012 and Delivery Support Robot (DSR). The application is going to work in such a way that the DSR will efficiently transport the goods to the drop-off zone from where the HSR can grab them and pass them over to the spectators. It is reported by Japan Times that 16 HSRs and 10 DSRs are expected to be in operation during the Olympics.
The utility of robots in the games is not exclusive to HSRs and DSRs only and various other robots will also be present during the games. Their objectives are yet to be declared by the project but one certain appearance will be made by Panasonic’s Power Assistant Suit. Masaki Komiya, in Tokyo Olympics 2020 vision, stated that “We are kicking off this robot project with the help of many people in order to help realize a truly innovative games. I would like as many people as possible to experience these technologies, which are one of Japan’s strengths, and I believe that through these we will be able to showcase a new style of the Games.”
References: Tokyo 2020, Japan Times, New Atlas