<p class="title">Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics organisers launched their ambitious Robot Project on Friday, unveiling two of the robots designed to assist supporters, workers and athletes at the Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two products, Toyota’s Human Support Robot (HSR) and the Power Assist Suit from Panasonic, were demonstrated to the public for the first time in Tokyo.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The HSR, a small white robot with built-in facial features, will assist wheelchair users at the Olympics, which begin in July 2020.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The robots can carry food and other goods, guide viewers to their seats and provide event information.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We will support people at the Olympics and at the stadium in wheelchair accessible areas," said Minoru Yamauchi, who is in charge of Toyota’s 2020 robots program.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"In terms of service, we will be offering stress-free entry and viewing and the robot can also carry bags and other luggage items for the customers."</p>.<p class="bodytext">There will be 16 HSR robots at Tokyo 2020 venues and Toyota hope to have similar products available for general sale by the early 2030s.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Panasonic also presented their offering, a battery-powered exoskeleton that assists with picking up heavy objects.</p>.<p class="bodytext">People are strapped into the Power Assist Suits, which enable users to repetitively lift and carry objects without putting a strain on their back.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They will be used by workers at Olympic and Paralympic venues, as well as the athletes’ village.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Tokyo 2020 organisers have long maintained next year’s summer showpiece will be the most innovative ever and more robots are expected to be announced later.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"At Pyeongchang, there are examples of robots being used at the Games but I don’t think it was to this sort of practical level," said Tokyo 2020 Vice Director General Maasaki Komiya.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"So, let me reiterate, we want to give the impression that robots are actually usable and they can become part of our daily lives."</p>.<p class="bodytext">"At past Games, I do not believe that we really saw robots as part of the Games."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Olympics begin on July 24, 2020 with the Paralympics commencing a month later. </p>
<p class="title">Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics organisers launched their ambitious Robot Project on Friday, unveiling two of the robots designed to assist supporters, workers and athletes at the Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two products, Toyota’s Human Support Robot (HSR) and the Power Assist Suit from Panasonic, were demonstrated to the public for the first time in Tokyo.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The HSR, a small white robot with built-in facial features, will assist wheelchair users at the Olympics, which begin in July 2020.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The robots can carry food and other goods, guide viewers to their seats and provide event information.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We will support people at the Olympics and at the stadium in wheelchair accessible areas," said Minoru Yamauchi, who is in charge of Toyota’s 2020 robots program.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"In terms of service, we will be offering stress-free entry and viewing and the robot can also carry bags and other luggage items for the customers."</p>.<p class="bodytext">There will be 16 HSR robots at Tokyo 2020 venues and Toyota hope to have similar products available for general sale by the early 2030s.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Panasonic also presented their offering, a battery-powered exoskeleton that assists with picking up heavy objects.</p>.<p class="bodytext">People are strapped into the Power Assist Suits, which enable users to repetitively lift and carry objects without putting a strain on their back.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They will be used by workers at Olympic and Paralympic venues, as well as the athletes’ village.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Tokyo 2020 organisers have long maintained next year’s summer showpiece will be the most innovative ever and more robots are expected to be announced later.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"At Pyeongchang, there are examples of robots being used at the Games but I don’t think it was to this sort of practical level," said Tokyo 2020 Vice Director General Maasaki Komiya.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"So, let me reiterate, we want to give the impression that robots are actually usable and they can become part of our daily lives."</p>.<p class="bodytext">"At past Games, I do not believe that we really saw robots as part of the Games."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Olympics begin on July 24, 2020 with the Paralympics commencing a month later. </p>