Tag: Cybathlon

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Quo Vadis, CYBATHLON?

Ten years ago, the CYBATHLON was held for the first time. It marked the beginning of a fascinating and inspiring project centered on inclusive AI and inclusive robotics. The competition – bringing together people with disabilities and impairments to compete with and against one another – was founded by Prof. Dr. Robert Riener of ETH Zurich. At the 2016 CYBATHLON, SRF host Tobias Müller spoke five times with Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel, a technology philosopher from Zurich, who provided context and evaluation regarding the use of implants, prosthetics, and robots. On one occasion, Prof. Dr. Lino Guzzella, then President of ETH Zurich, also took part; on another, Robert Riener joined the discussion. The most recent edition of the CYBATHLON took place in 2024. A total of 67 teams from 24 nations competed across eight disciplines at the SWISS Arena in Kloten near Zurich, as well as at seven interconnected hubs in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Hungary, Thailand, and South Korea. The website currently states: “While CYBATHLON’s journey at ETH Zürich ends here, the story is far from over. The next edition of the event may take place in Asia in 2028, marking an exciting new chapter for this unique global competition.” (CYBATHLON website) This would allow a success story to continue – once again not in Europe, but in Asia (Photo: ETH Zürich, CYBATHLON/Alessandro della Bella).

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Cybathlon 2020 Postponed

According to a press release, ETH Zurich has decided to postpone the Cybathlon until 19 – 20 September 2020. “The decision was prompted by the uncertainty as to how the coronavirus will develop over the coming weeks, and the international dimension of the Cybathlon – over 25 of the teams that have registered come from Asia and Italy, areas badly hit by the virus.” (Press release ETHZ, 10 March 2020) During the Cybathlon in the SWISS Arena in Kloten near Zurich in 2016, athletes with disabilities competed to master everyday challenges using assistive technology. The teams came from all over the world. The audience enthusiastically joined in as the virtual race with mind control, the bicycle race with muscle stimulation and the arm prosthesis, leg prosthesis and wheelchair course took place. Since February 2020, COVID-19 has led to numerous cancellations and postponements of major events. More information via ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2020/03/cybathlon-postponed.html.