Here we are, Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Games have finally started this Friday, on 23rd July. The games formerly scheduled to be held during summer 2020 were delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These Olympics are gathering around 11,000 athletes from 206 countries, and it is also the opportunity for Japan to perform a real show of technological innovations.
Robotic guides, autonomous cars, crowd control directed by artificial intelligence, facial recognition and immersive virtual reality are among the technologies presented at the Olympics. Let’s take a look at some of these technologies.
What are the technological challenges for the city of Tokyo?
For these Olympic games and especially because of the pandemic, security will be a key concern, and high-tech may help with crowd control and infection risk management.
These technological innovations are not just created for the Olympics. The city is actually studying how can IoTs be used to improve everyday life in Tokyo. However, such a big event is the perfect opportunity to implement and test them.
Tokyo has already implemented many smart city ideas using IoT technology. For instance, in the public transports an IoT-based smart maintenance system was introduced to minimize disruption. Sensors can collect data to identify weak points, predict equipment failures, and inform when and where maintenance is needed.
Tokyo also wants to use IoTs to help reduce carbon emissions and become a more environmentally friendly city. For instance, parts of the Olympic village are meant to be turn into fully hydrogen-powered smart districts after the Games.
How IoT solutions will be apply to the Olympic Games?
Robots
In Japan, Robots are an emblem of the technological innovation. This is why we could not imagine Tokyo 2020s Olympic Games without those humanoids. If you watched the Opening Ceremony, you probably have already seen some of them. Robots are puts in the airport to welcome visitors and ensure multilingual guidance. Olympic athletes can meet no less than six different models of robots. All robots are there to provide an assistance to the spectators and the personnel of the Olympics. Since no foreign spectators are allowed to come to the Olympics, Robots are also equipped with cameras which allow to live a virtual experience, as if you were in the heart of the Olympic sites in order to give access to the greatest number.
Immersive Live Viewing
As stated before, since no foreign spectator can assist to these Olympic Games, immersive virtual-reality experiences are available. It will allow them to enjoy the event in a more engaging manner. Viewers can enjoy the events in such a way that it really feels like they are sitting in the stadium.
Autonomous Cars
Autonomous vehicles will be used during the Olympics. These cars are made to drive passengers on some specific trips like from the airport to the Olympic village and around different Olympic places in Tokyo. It will ensure the transportation of athletes and staff. Around 100 self-driving cars will be on the road during the Olympics. This new technology is not only useful during the Olympics but if it works properly, it can become one of the next generations of public transport in Tokyo. In partnership with Toyota, the International Olympic Committee has developed vehicles powered by artificial intelligence.
Facial Recognition Systems
The Facial Recognition technology is going to be used at Tokyo Olympics 2021. Autonomous cars will be equipped with a facial recognition system to identify athletes, staff members and journalists and prevent from identity usurpation, falsification and use of lost or stolen accreditations.
Facial recognition will also provide a way to prevent from coronavirus spread by using touchless security screening process. It will also track people’s moves to identified infected ones and find out those who were in close contact.
Language Translators
Olympics games gather people from all over the world speaking many different languages. To help passing through the language barrier Japan has developed instant translation systems. English to Japanese translation AI chatbots will be available on the robots.
As you can see, these Tokyo 2020’s Olympic Games are not just a sport event, it is also an opportunity for Japan to show its technological innovations. We will have the opportunity to support our team for two weeks until August 8th.
Next Olympic Games will be held in China during winter 2022. These games will also be challenging for China regarding the pandemic.
But, for the moment, let’s enjoy the games. Which sport do you prefer to watch ?
References :
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/use-of-technology-in-tokyo-olympics-2021/
https://www.raconteur.net/technology/internet-of-things/iot-tokyo-2020/