The Robot Project to showcase the most innovative Games in history
Tokyo, 15 March 2019 – The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo
2020) announced today the launch of its new Tokyo 2020 Robot Project, one of many programmes aimed
at ensuring the Tokyo 2020 Games will be the most innovative ever and providing visiting fans with an
experience they are unlikely to forget.
The Tokyo 2020 Robot Project brings together experts in the field of robotics, and is supported by Japan’s
Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Panasonic Corporation, Toyota Motor
Corporation, and Tokyo 2020.
Human Support Robot and Delivery Support Robot developed by Toyota Motor Corporation will allow all
spectators to enjoy watching the Tokyo 2020 Games in greater comfort. The robots will provide
assistance to spectators in wheelchairs at the Olympic Stadium by carrying food and other goods, guiding
people to their seats, and providing event information.
Power Assist Suits developed by Panasonic Corporation will be utilised in the backstage areas of venues
and at the Olympic and Paralympic Villages to unload and transport heavy objects, including food and
drinks, and for waste disposal, thus easing human workloads and providing a healthier and safer working
environment. The suits will also be deployed at airports loading incoming athletes’ luggage onto buses.
Other robots will perform a number of additional duties during the Games, details of which will be
announced later. Overall, robot technology will help deliver a safer and smoother Games, and while the
robots will be deployed only in specific roles during the Games, the project is expected to showcase their
potential for wider application in everyday life.
Hirohisa Hirukawa, leader of the Tokyo 2020 Robot Project, commented, "The Tokyo 2020 Games are a
unique opportunity for us to display Japanese robot technology. This project will not simply be about
exhibiting robots, but showcasing their practical real-life deployment helping people. So there will be not
only sports at the Tokyo 2020 Games, but some cool robots at work to look forward to as well."
Masahiro Ido, Executive Officer of Panasonic, commented, "As the first Paralympic Worldwide Partner in
Japan, Panasonic aims to contribute to the success of the Tokyo 2020 Games through our solutions. We
strongly believe that our robot technology—including Power Assist Suits, which constitute one of our
sponsorship contributions—will be of use to all people regardless of impairments, and to society in
general, becoming a legacy for future generations."
Nobuhiko Koga, Chief Officer of Frontier Research Center, Toyota commented, "TOYOTA hopes to
provide ‘the freedom to move for everyone’ throughout the Games and has developed various mobility
solutions, including robots. We believe that the robots will help spectators in wheelchairs to enjoy
watching the events without any restrictions, to soak up the atmosphere inside stadiums and to feel the
excitement of sport."
Tokyo 2020 Vice Director General Masaaki Komiya commented, "We are kicking off this robot project with
the help of many people in order to help realise a truly innovative Games, as stated in Tokyo 2020’s vision.
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."
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