Founded in 2016 by Professor Robert Riener, this year marks the fourth edition of the Cybathlon. In addition to the competitions, the event serves as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in assistive technology and to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Professor Riener’s motivation lies in advancing the event and increasing attention to the topics of inclusion and assistive systems, thereby enhancing technological progress: “Through my research with people with disabilities, I have realized that many assistive devices have limited functions, are complicated and expensive, and thus are not widely accepted by these individuals. What’s special about the Cybathlon is that it encourages researchers and developers to create technologies that work better, are accepted by people with disabilities, and thus improve the quality of life and autonomy of those affected.”
Double Silver for the Enhanced Teams
The Enhanced Teams spent weeks and months preparing and optimizing for the Cybathlon, completing numerous test runs with the pilots, improving, discussing, and testing again. The focus was always on ensuring that the technology provided optimal support to the user. After winning gold at the Cybathlons in 2016 and 2020, expectations were high this year as well, and the hard work and perseverance paid off.
Pilot Rolf Schoch skillfully drove the wheelchair “ZED Evolution” to the finish line, securing second place with a personal best time of 5 minutes 59 seconds. And that’s not all: he also impressed in the Exoskeleton discipline with his calmness and skill, even though the original plan was different. Silvia Rohner, head of the Medtech Lab, explains: “We once again demonstrated that we succeed with robust technology. We delivered exactly what we aimed for in all races. This was despite the fact that Thomas – our pilot in the EXO category – was unfortunately unable to participate. Rolf, who had only prepared for the wheelchair discipline, stepped in for Thomas and competed in both categories. He could rely completely on both devices and focus on overcoming the obstacles.”
Always in focus: Real-world challenges
While the Cybathlon is an important event that helps bring together developers, companies, and pioneers, the main focus of the Medtech Lab lies on the further development, research, and optimization of assistive systems. Participation in the competition has provided some insights that will shape future work. The mission of “inclusion” is far from over. Silvia Rohner notes: “We will first take a step back and carefully examine the real-world challenges we aim to solve. This is very important now, so that we do not lose touch with the everyday life of wheelchair users.”
