VUB sends athletes to first ‘Bionic Olympics’

The Brussels Human Robotics Research Center (BruBotics) at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) is sending two athletes to the first Cybathlon Championship, dubbed the ‘Bionic Olympics’, this weekend in Zurich. Participating athletes use the newest robotics technologies to deal with a disability.

Contrary to the Paralympic Games, Cybathlon athletes are allowed to use actively assisting “bionic” technologies. The VUB athletes are registered for the powered leg prosthetics race.

Apart from a competition, the Cybathlon is a unique meeting of the top robotics research centres and companies in the world. It gives them the chance to show their latest developments to a broad public and possible investors.

VUB’s Ankle Mimicking Prosthesis team have developed an ankle and leg prosthesis for Maher Latiri, which adapts to a surface like a human foot. It not only allows extra comfort, it limits the chance of damage caused by an unnatural walking or running pattern.

The university’s Cyberlegs team developed an knee-ankle-foot prosthesis, which athlete Michel De Groote can operate with a remote control. It helps him to both stand up and move. “With a regular prosthesis, I would have to do 90% of the effort myself, but this prosthesis takes over most of the effort, so I have less back problems,” said De Groote.