Innovation at the 2020 Olympics
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are underway with the opening ceremonies taking place on Friday, July 23. The Olympics have paired with major companies around the world in an attempt to make this the most innovative Olympic Games of all time.
One of the largest projects is the Robot Project, which is designed to promote robots for social good while the world is captivated by the Games. This project will be on display at track and field events with the Field Support Robot
(FSR). The FSR will determine the optimal path to follow when retrieving items such as hammers or javelins thrown by athletes while guiding staff along paths to avoid obstacles. It will help reduce the amount of time needed to retrieve items and the amount of human support required at events. Robots will also be available to wheelchair users at the Olympics by offering them stress-free entry and exit to venues by delivering water and helping guide guests to seats.
Robots at the 2020 Olympics are a recurring theme. Another robot-powered technology that will be implemented at the games is power-assisted suits. This technology will be used by employees to help them load/unload heavy boxes and transporting waste/luggage. This is a type of innovation that could be become mainstream in the future, it will be intriguing to see how this technological innovation works out at the Olympics.
The other massive innovation initiative at the 2020 Olympics is the Tokyo 2020 5G Project. In cooperation with Intel, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, and NTT DOCOMO Inc, the project will showcase innovative sports viewing experiences using the very latest 5G technology at three competition venues during the games.
These will include broadcasts of ultra-high-resolution videos and simultaneous multipoint videos leveraging the high-speed and capacity offered by 5G technology, as well as an augmented reality experience that takes advantage of 5G’s low latency. These facilities will be at the respective venues for sailing, swimming, and golf.
5G x Ultra-Realistic Communication Technology at sailing venue via olympics.com
Sailing Venue: Fans viewing have traditionally been on nearby piers, often using binoculars. At the 2020 Olympic Games fans will experience the event much closer to the action through ultra-realistic communication technology. 12k resolution will be broadcast on a 164-foot screen floating on the water in the Enoshima Yacht Harbor. A similar broadcast will be provided simultaneously at the Big Sight in Tokyo, the location of the Tokyo 2020 Main Press Centre. This is aimed to help fans and media have a more realistic viewing experience.
5G x AR at swimming venue via olympics.com
Swimming Venue: Fans in certain seats at swimming competitions in Tokyo Aquatics Centre will be provided with wearable AR (augmented reality) devices, which will display detailed race information during events. Using ultra-fast 5G technology, data will be transmitted swiftly to the AR devices and spectators will be offered the brand-new experience of watching swimming competitions amid the excitement of the live venue while being offered detailed event information in real-time.
5G x Multi-live broadcast at golf venue via olympics.com
Golf Venue: 2020 Olympic golf will take place at Kasumigaseki Country Club. To meet the needs of different fans Tokyo 2020 will provide a variety of innovative viewing experiences. Taking advantage of 5G's high-speed large-capacity and low-latency technology, spectators at Tokyo 2020 golf events will be able to individually select and watch live videos of the action at multiple locations on rental devices provided by the organizer.
With the support of global technology companies, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are set to be the most innovative ever. The Robot Project and the 5G Project will provide fans with innovative ways to view events and will lead the way for smart venues in the future. Be on the lookout for these technologies as they begin to get implemented in sports outside of the Olympics.