Tokyo 2020 Support: Exploring the Tech Behind Omotenashi Robot (Part 2)
In the spirit of selfless hospitality and a commitment to serving others, Toyota unveiled its Human Support Robot (HSR) at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The robot, developed as part of Toyota's support for the event, embodied a human-centered approach, aiming to provide practical, empathetic aid to athletes and people with disabilities.
The HSR was designed with a focus on the needs and experiences of Paralympic athletes and attendees. Its functions were inspired by the Japanese concept of omotenashi, reflecting a dedication to anticipating and fulfilling human needs with care and respect. The robot was integrated into Toyota's broader deployment of autonomous field support robots, designed to perform tasks such as carrying equipment or providing navigation support.
Close cooperation between engineers, athletes, and event organizers ensured the robot's functionality matched real human demands in a dynamic, high-stakes environment. The HSR was initially chosen to provide mobility and spectator support for wheelchair users at the National Stadium. Equipped with front and rear laser sensors, upward-facing cameras, and a wide-angle lens camera, the HSR navigated a crowded concourse and monitored wheelchair users.
Operators controlled the HSR units remotely from Toyota Loops during the Games. They chatted remotely with event staff while taking commemorative photos, avoiding collisions by calling out to passers-by. The HSR was redesigned to instill human warmth by including movements like tilting the head to match the user's eye level and using arm movements in responses.
The HSR was originally intended to guide wheelchair users, distribute bottled water, collect garbage, and provide a photo-taking service. However, it quickly became clear that the robot's potential extended beyond its initial functions. The HSR team gained insights from the Tokyo 2020 experience, particularly in the potential of robots to create new job opportunities.
The project highlights Toyota’s commitment not only to technological innovation but to the ethos of serving *for someone other than yourself*, a core value emphasized by Toyota’s leadership as part of their vision to contribute positively to society through their robotics initiatives.
The HSRs were stationed evenly around the stadium's first floor perimeter on the final day of competition to bid farewell to Games officials. The commemorative photos taken by the HSRs during the Games numbered in the hundreds. Masahiro Takahashi, the operations leader of the R-Frontier Division, played a significant role in the development of the HSR.
Toyota is the Official Worldwide Sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company teamed up with several research institutions in Japan and overseas to establish the HSR Developers' Community, which has grown to 46 facilities in 14 countries. The HSR project team is rapidly working towards commercial release with continued improvement based on feedback from care workers and users with disabilities.
One operator, Murase, made it a habit to greet staff at stores her HSR passed during operations. She even interacted with foreign media during the Games, conveying a joke through the HSR. The HSR's ability to convey the spirit of hospitality through robots, as realised by Takemitsu Mori from R-Frontier Division, was truly evident in its service at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
The HSR project, initiated by Toyota, expanded its functions beyond initial expectations, reflecting a potential for robots in creating new job opportunities in the fields of science, technology, and sports. Toyota's commitment to serve others, a core value emphasized by its leadership, was demonstrated through the use of the HSR in the sports sector, especially during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
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