The Cybathlon is an international competition in which people with physical disabilities compete against each other to complete everyday tasks using state-of-the-art technical assistance Systems ("pilots"). Besides the actual competition, the Cybathlon offers a platform to drive forward research on assistance systems for everyday use, and to promote dialogue with the public.

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The first Cybathlon organised by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich took place in Switzerland on 8 October 2016.  66 pilots from 25 nations participated.  The tasks and rules are defined in detail for each of the six disciplines. The most important is that the pilots complete the tasks correctly, safely and securely. Time comes in as a secondary factor.

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The programme of Cybathlon 2020 will include new challenges. While the tasks will continue to be relevant to everyday life, they will reflect advances in research. This means that visitors and pilots can look forward to the further developed Brain-​Computer Interface Race, Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Race, Powered Arm Prosthesis Race, Powered Leg Prosthesis Race, Powered Exoskeleton Race as well as the Powered Wheelchair Race.

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Works and images cited:

“Cybathlon – moving people and technology,” 2020, https://cybathlon.ethz.ch/en/cybathlon-2020.html.

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“Cybathlon.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Jan. 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybathlon.

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“Official Trailer: Get ready for CYBATHLON September 2020.” YouTube, uploaded by Cybathlon, 12 Mar 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ8DHV3_C5k.

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