Torchbearer Peng Yuanyuan with the wearable upper limb-assisted exoskeleton robot [IMAGE: SIACAS]

The first underwater torch relay between robots in the history of the Olympic Games was completed by two robots developed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIACAS) at Beijing Winter Olympic Park, on February 2.

During a torch relay for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games on March 4, torchbearer Peng Yuanyuan managed to finish her task with the help of a wearable upper limb-assisted exoskeleton robot.

Torchbearer Peng Yuanyuan in a group photo with the intelligent robot arm research and development team. [IMAGE: SIACAS]

The upper limb-assisted exoskeleton robot, “tailor-made” for Peng and developed by SIACAS, demonstrates the integration of the Olympic Games and technology. The robot arm helps Peng to hold the torch steadily and make flexible movements.

Peng is one of the eight flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics, and was flag bearer for the Chinese delegation at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics in South Korea.

Researchers made breakthroughs in human-machine neural interface technologies, and developed a multi-modal information acquisition system that fits the skin, enabling Peng to control the bionic arm flexibly through her mind.

In addition, the bionic design of the exoskeleton ensures that the artificial arm is able to do delicate operations and carry weights.

Source: Shenyang Institute of Automation,

Chinese Academy of Sciences