Recap of CYBATHLON Challenges 2024: A Celebration of Innovation and Accessibility

On 2 February 2024, the third and final CYBATHLON Challenges took place on the Road to CYBATHLON 2024. 18 teams from 9 countries competed against each other showcasing their current technology and the pilot’s skills in four selected tasks of their discipline of the CYBATHLON 2024 Races & Rules. Here we capture some of the event's remarkable achievements, unique features, and exciting developments.

The anticipation builds as we draw closer to our main event CYBATHLON 2024 in October. With the completion of the third and final CYBATHLON Challenges, held on 2 February 2024, we have taken a significant step forward. The event proved to be a resounding success, with participation from a total of 18 teams, 9 countries and 9 Hubs spanning across the globe and converging in our main hub in Kloten, Switzerland. We are delighted to share with you the remarkable achievements and exciting developments of this truly exceptional event, thanks to the dedication and ingenuity of all participating teams.

What set the Challenges 2024 apart?

This year, we introduced several groundbreaking features that elevated the CYBATHLON experience to new heights. First and foremost, we expanded the challenge by introducing four tasks per discipline, providing teams with even more opportunities to showcase their skills and innovations. In addition, we unveiled new virtual games specifically designed for the Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Race (FES) and Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) disciplines. These virtual environments offered an immersive and realistic experience, enhancing the overall competitiveness and excitement of the challenges.

Furthermore, we were honoured to welcome Patrick Winterton from Eurosport as our new host and moderator. His expertise and enthusiasm brought a fresh perspective to the event, enriching the experience for all involved. Additionally, our heads of disciplines – Adrian Esser, Giulia Amos, Felix Erb, Laura Mayrhuber, and Ingrid Odermatt – provided invaluable insights and commentary, further enhancing the quality and professionalism of the Challenges 2024.

Results and New Features:

We are pleased to announce the winning teams and pilots in each discipline:

• Arm Prosthesis Race: BionIT Labs (Italy) with pilot Philipp Barluschke
• Assistance Robot Race: RSL (Switzerland) with pilot Samuel Kunz
• Brain-Computer Interface Race: NeuroCONCISE (UK) with pilot Owen Collumb
• Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Race: PULSE Racing (Netherlands) with pilot Peter van Burk
• Vision Assistance Race: EyeRider (Hungary) with pilot Peter Sulyok
• Wheelchair Race: Robility enhanced (Switzerland) with pilot Rolf Schoch

We invite you to explore further details about the results and new features of the CYBATHLON Challenges 2024 here: https://cybathlon.ethz.ch/en/challenges2024/video-center

As we reflect on the success of CYBATHLON Challenges 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible teams, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who made this event possible. Together, we are driving innovation and promoting inclusivity in assistive technologies, empowering individuals with disabilities to reach new heights of achievement.

Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare for CYBATHLON 2024, the third edition, scheduled to take place in Schluefweg, Kloten, in October. For more information, visit www.cybathlon.com.

Let's continue to celebrate innovation and accessibility together! Join the Ultimate Challenge of Human-Machine Interaction at CYBATHLON! We are currently calling for teams to register for the CYBATHLON 2024 which will take place in October 2024. We are inviting teams to participate in the following eight disciplines – Arm Prosthesis Race, Assistance Robot Race, Vision Assistance Race, Brain-Computer Interface Race, Exoskeleton Race, Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Race, Leg Prosthesis Race and Wheelchair Race.

Register for the CYBATHLON 2024:

https://cybathlon.ethz.ch/en/events/edition/cybathlon-2024/team-registration