The CYBATHLON Story

About CYBATHLON

The Idea

ETH Professor initiates CYBATHLON

Looking at the millions of people who use technical assistance systems in their daily lives, Robert Riener, professor of Sensory-​Motor Systems at ETH Zurich, initiated the CYBATHLON in 2013. The idea for the CYBATHLON was inspired by athletes, such as the first runner with a motorised leg prosthesis to climb the Chicago Willis Tower, and the first runner with lower body paralysis to use an exoskeleton to run the London Marathon.

Platform for the Promotion of Inclusion

CYBATHLON was launched as a platform for exchange between people with disabilities, technology providers and the public in order to raise awareness of the challenges faced by those with disabilities, and to promote the development of assistive technologies.

CYBATHLON 2016

Everyday tasks

On the 8 October 2016, CYBATHLON was carried out for the first time under the umbrella of the ETH Zurich in the SWISS Arena in Kloten near Zurich.

The structure of the event and the associated activities (Hands-​On-Demos to showcase the limitations and possibilities of assistance devices, school programme and Meet and Greet) was the result of exchanges with multiple people who use assistive technologies due to disability, and partners from disability organisations, hospitals, industry and politics. From the first ideas about races and disciplines, the focus was on everyday tasks.

Scientific Exchange

In addition, through numerous interviews and within the framework of the scientific symposium, discourse on the potential for future technical assistive systems to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities within wider society was strengthened and deepened.

CYBATHLON grew to be a meaningful event which interactively showcased the interplay between humans and technology.

More about the CYBATHLON 2016

Road to 2020

For Science, the Public and Schools

Between the CYBATHLON 2016 and the CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition, CYBATHLON organized numerous events and projects: In addition to the CYBATHLON Series, which are intended to promote the worldwide scientific exchange, and the CYBATHLON Experiences, which aim to bring assistive technologies closer to the public, CYBATHLON launched the CYBATHLON @school project together with mint & pepper. This project offers teaching modules in various subjects – all about inclusion and robotics.

More about the projects and events

CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition

CYBATHLON in a new, global Format

CYBATHLON 2020 took place on 13 and 14 November 2020 – globally and in a new format, at the teams’ home bases. They set up their infrastructure for the competition and filmed their races. Instead of starting directly next to each other, the pilots started individually and under the supervision of CYBATHLON officials. From Zurich, the competitions were broadcast through a new platform in a unique live programme. At the CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition, pilots and their development teams showed what they have achieved together over the past years and offered the spectators an unforgettable competition experience.

More about the CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition
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