Panasonic introduced the capabilities of its ATOUN MODEL Y power assist suit to the world at the Paralympic powerlifting tournament between August 26th and 30th. Developed to reduce the physical strain caused by repetitive heavy lifting, the suit was used for the first time by spotters and loaders to help them move weights and support the athletes.

The MODEL Y suit was fitted with super responsive sensors able to detect minute user movements and instantly respond with a supply of mechanized power. Demonstrations showed those wearing the suit enjoyed a 10-40% reduction in muscle burden, making it noticeably easier for the spotters and loaders to move the weights.

Through intensive tests and plenty of feedback, the MODEL Y was designed with user comfort at the forefront. Robotic suits generally require close physical contact with the body for accurate support, but testers of early iterations of the MODEL Y reported feeling sweaty and awkward, making them reluctant to use the suit again. Panasonic responded to these problems by redesigning the suits to make them as user-friendly and unobtrusive as possible. Many years of trial-and-error development have culminated in a super comfortable, breathable suit that can be easily put on and taken off without clinging to or irritating the skin.

Panasonic also demonstrated its latest cleaning robot technology at the Main Press Center (MPC) in the Tokyo Big Sight convention hall. Boasting acute awareness of their surroundings and high-precision movement, these state-of-the-art AI cleaning robots thoroughly and intelligently cleaned areas of the center with minimal human management. This reduced the need for personnel at Tokyo Big Sight during the Games, acting as another prevention against the spread of COVID-19 and allowing resources to be more effectively deployed elsewhere.