Futuristic Technology At The Olympics: AI, IoT, And Robots
28 February 2022
The Olympics are all about emotion – the drama of world-class competition, the pageantry of medal ceremonies, and the moment-to-moment celebrations of the human spirit in action.
The 2022 Winter Games kicked off on February 4th in Beijing, China. Despite the fact that the Games feel a little different because of COVID restrictions, nearly 3,000 athletes from 91 countries are competing in 109 events across events like alpine skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, luge, bobsled, snowboarding, and speed skating.
And behind the scenes, there are huge technological advances helping athletes become better, faster, and stronger.
Let’s take a look at how artificial intelligence, the IoT, and intelligent devices are being used at the Olympic Games.
Enhancing Athlete Performance with AI
Teams looking for a competitive edge are using AI technologies for player training, performance, health, and safety. That includes things like:
- Cameras and sensors in equipment like bike pedals or shoes that can continuously stream data to coaches, so they can make adjustments.
- Smart wearables and that measure lung capacity, heart rate, and movement, so sports physicians, physical therapists, and team doctors can reduce injuries and help players heal faster.
- Monitoring equipment that helps coaching staff predict the next move of the opposing team or individual competitor.
- AI programs that can analyze performance data to create personalized solutions for training, rest, and nutrition.
- AI-enabled physical tests that can detect early signs of fatigue or stress-related injuries.
Engaging Fans with Real-Time Data
Artificial intelligence tools like computer-vision cameras give the Olympic audience the ultimate viewing experience.
AI-powered 3D Athlete Tracking (3DAT) uses cameras with computer vision and artificial intelligence to give fans near-real-time data during races and events. AI provides biomechanical analysis of athlete speed, distance traveled, and time remaining to display on screen and use in overlays during replays.
Upcoming viewer-oriented innovations around scoring, positioning systems, and timekeeping are currently in development for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Refining Curling in Beijing with a Robotic Coach
Inventors and scientists at the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in China created a robotic curling coach that uses a combination of image recognition, AI, and an automatic control system to help teams refine their performance.
The robot simulates the curling throwing process, which can help athletes predict potential game situations before they occur. The HIT team will unveil the robotic curling coach to the world at the Beijing Olympics.
Get a little preview of how the robot works in this short video:
Robot Chefs and Bartenders Take Over the Kitchens in the Olympic Village
In an effort to keep the spread of COVID-19 under control at this year’s games, organizers decided to bring in robot chefs to prepare and deliver meals onsite for the athletes and their support teams.
The advancements include things like:
- An AI-enabled chef-bot that prepares burgers and other hot meals
- A coffee robot that grinds beans and brews java
- A ceiling-mounted robot arm that delivers meals to people sitting in socially-distanced cubicles
- Super-efficient bartender robots that mix up favorite cocktails
Watch the kitchen and bar bots in action in this video:
AI, robots, and the Internet of Things are playing a key role at this year’s Winter Olympics – so look for some of this cutting-edge technology as your cheer for your favorite athletes this year and beyond.
Related Articles
The 12 Best Smart Home Devices Transforming Homes in 2025
By now, “smart” versions exist of just about every home appliance, gadget and gizmos we can think of. However, manufacturers continue[...]
11 Most Reliable AI Content Detectors: Your Guide To Spotting Synthetic Media
Since the launch of ChatGPT just two years ago, the volume of synthetic – or fake – content online has increased exponentially.[...]
The AI-Powered Citizen Revolution: How Every Employee Is Becoming A Technology Creator
Something remarkable is happening in organizations around the world.[...]
6 Mistakes IT Teams Are Guaranteed To Make In 2025
The next wave of artificial intelligence isn't just knocking at enterprise doors - it's exposing fundamental flaws in how organizations approach technology transformation.[...]
2025’s Tech Forecast: The Consumer Innovations That Will Matter Most
Consumer technology covers all of the tech we buy to make our lives more convenient, productive or fun.[...]
7 Healthcare Trends That Will Transform Medicine In 2025
Healthcare has evolved dramatically in recent years, with technology driving countless new opportunities, just as demographic and societal factors have created new challenges.[...]
Sign up to Stay in Touch!
Bernard Marr is a world-renowned futurist, influencer and thought leader in the fields of business and technology, with a passion for using technology for the good of humanity.
He is a best-selling author of over 20 books, writes a regular column for Forbes and advises and coaches many of the world’s best-known organisations.
He has a combined following of 4 million people across his social media channels and newsletters and was ranked by LinkedIn as one of the top 5 business influencers in the world.
Bernard’s latest book is ‘Generative AI in Practice’.
Social Media