This October, one should plan to set aside time to enjoy the first Cybathlon, a competition in six disciplines where humans and robots work in unison to overcome challenges and obstacles. The one-day event is scheduled to take take place on October 8, 2016 in Zurich at the Kolping Arena where ‘racing pilots’ will take center stage along with his or her innovative bionic devices.
The concept was created by professor Robert Riener, head of the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. He was inspired after reading a local news story of a man using a powered knee prosthesis who climbed over 2,000 stairs up (or 103 stories) the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, located in Chicago, Illinois. Recognizing the sense of achievement and the positive influence of assistive technology and advanced prosthetics in every-day human life, Riener set out to create Cybathlon with the help of ETH Zurich and their sponsors. Their mission is to generate dialogue among academia and industry which will lead to further development of assistive technology and promote the use of robotic prosthetic devices.
For each of the six disciplined events, competing teams and pilots must meet the general competition rules. Pilots are screened for specific criteria to ensure that the degree of his or her physical disability does not put the individual at a significant disadvantage.
The six disciplined events scheduled to take place are:
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Powered exoskeleton race
- Four pilots will complete an obstacle course within a given time, and the course will include tasks such as slalom courses, uneven terrain, and stairs.
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Powered arm prosthesis race
- Pilots will be timed as they complete an agility course testing muscle activity including a set of puzzles, a shelf and tray course, and other common tasks.
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Powered leg prosthesis race
- Like the arm prosthesis race, pilots will timed as they complete a course of physical tasks such as navigating hurdles, alternating stairs, and other common tasks.
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Brain-computer interface (BCI) race
- Pilots will transmit brainwaves using BCI’s to control avatars and navigate virtual obstacles using a specially developed computer game.
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Powered wheelchair race
- Pilots will complete a number of physical challenges including slalom courses, ramps, and steps to name a few.
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Functional electrical simulation bike race
- Pilots will ride five laps, across a distance of 750m.
We anticipate seeing technologies such as touch sensory limbs and electromagnetic mind control. The prosthetic devices are not only a marvel of technology, they are a tool of empowerment for the many individuals with physical disabilities. The event will highlight the hard work of competitors from around the world as well as the many engineers and scientists who helped and continue to help develop the technologies and equipment that power progress.
