tech

Olympic robots to offer 'virtual' attendance, help out on field

19 Comments
By Yuri Kageyama

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19 Comments
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Good idea. But "scuttle"?! How about "scoot."

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

suitable for here - looks like a kids toy.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Pointless

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Waste of money. And time. These will end up on the sidelines before the Games finish.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

SO there's no money to pay people to do anything at the Olympics, but there is money for robots to do it.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Brilliant!

I'm going to rent one of the 'virtual attendance' screens, and rent an old lady to put on a vitual striptease for the poor folks stuck in lines!

My Olympic hobby has been decided!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Only in Japan! This will showcase the level of Robots and AI to the world, which will be a boost to tourism. Furthermore, its safer if a Robot get hit by a discus or flying javelin in the stadium, than a human volunteer!

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

It isn't picking up anything, it is just moving stuff.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The catch is: It can't go find the objects or pick them up on its own. A person has to run in front of it. Once the object is loaded, by the human, the robot will return to its original position.

Ridiculous.

What a waste.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

So... after the implement is thrown, the 'robot' needs a human to walk with it, pick up the implement, load it in the 'robot' and then it can return to it's starting place?

Sounds less like a robot and more like a radio controlled cart.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Only in Japan! This will showcase the level of Robots and AI to the world, which will be a boost to tourism.

Very true. The Robot Restaurant in Kabukicho, Shinjuku,

Tokyo is very popular among foreigner tourist. Last time I was in Tokyo I want to check it out but the ticket price is around ¥8,000! Way beyond my means!

Furthermore, its safer if a Robot get hit by a discus or flying javelin in the stadium, than a human volunteer!

A very good point, from what I see in the picture it does not look like it can pick up javelins and discuses so I guess they are designing another robot to pick them up. I am sure they are not putting any human volunteer in the field.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I’m curious how much these toys cost and who paid for them. Surely it would be cheaper and more effective to employ real people to do these jobs.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I am sure they are not putting any human volunteer in the field.

Except that the story specifically says that a human must do it. In addition, a human would mark the throw, a human judges the throw and more, as they have at every track and field event in memory.

This is nothing more than a retrieval cart.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Davd Varnes

I was being sarcastic.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I can't believe a company like TOYOTA with the money, the technology and engineering manpower and knowhow came up with these good-for-nothing mediocre machines. It looks like the task was assigned to some college new recruits rather than seasoned robotic engineers.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The London Olympics had remote controlled trollies that collected javelins etc. they didn't have anyone run in front of them, and were controlled by local teenage volunteers.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Very cool technology, fitting it will be showcased in Tokyo

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

I was being sarcastic.

My bad. Sarcasm sometimes is hard on this site, unless it's like Strangerland yesterday with his over the top sarcasm on a Trump thread.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Was Tokyo not boasting about the huge number of volunteers that applied? Do they think those people are doing it because they pity the Olympic committee? No! They WANT to be there!

getting the robot to hold the Olympic torch using magnets.

Some people will be devastated to hear that a robot will be limiting opportunities to carry the Olympic torch!

what a waste!!!!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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