We spoke with Christos Belogiannis, leader of the HERMES Team, about their unforgettable experience at CYBATHLON 2024. Read what he shared with us.
Christos, tell us about your participation in CYBATHLON 2024.
Our team’s participation in CYBATHLON 2024 was an exciting journey filled with challenges and new experiences. We were officially accepted into the competition in February 2024, and since then, we underwent rigorous technical and medical checks, bringing us one step closer. The final stage of the competition, held in Zurich in collaboration with ETH Zurich, made us the first Greek team to compete in CYBATHLON—not only in the Exoskeleton Race but also in other events.
Our delegation consisted of 20 students from the University of Thessaly, specifically from the departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Although a strike by the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) just days before the competition delayed the timely transportation of our equipment, our participation was rich in opportunities. We connected with high-level teams from around the world, even though we couldn't showcase our robotic exoskeleton. We exchanged ideas, expanded our knowledge, and found inspiration for the next phase of our project. This experience motivates us to further develop our exoskeleton and return even more prepared.
What happened during the competition?
As I mentioned, our team faced a significant hurdle when transporting the exoskeleton due to the PNO strike. We had planned to ship the equipment by land, but with limited time, it was difficult to adjust our plans to ensure its timely arrival. Despite this setback, our team actively participated in the event, staying at the heart of the competition and sharing this incredible experience with other teams.
What are your next steps?
While we’ve achieved a significant milestone, our primary goal remains: to develop a fully functional robotic exoskeleton for individuals with mobility challenges, meeting high technological and medical standards. Over the next year, we’ll focus on improving the device’s performance and functionality through extensive testing with our pilot. At the same time, we’ll expand our research into medical robotics, emphasizing rehabilitation. We’ve already begun developing Brain-Computer Interface technology, aiming to integrate it into our exoskeleton in the future.
Our team continues to innovate and evolve, constantly seizing new opportunities. This year, we expanded our activities by including new departments, welcoming students from medicine, engineering, and marketing to offer a more comprehensive approach. In this context, we are seeking new members to strengthen our team and help achieve our goals. Anyone interested can apply here.
Thank you Christo. We wish you and your team every success in the future!
