Team GB and Paralympics GB athletes and the Toyota Robots Feature in New Short Film

Toyota has brought together some of the UK’s top Olympic and Paralympic athletes with its Human Support Robot (HSR) in a new short film: Human Support Robot – Toyota’s Olympic and Paralympic Film.

To be launched today Friday (16 July), the short film features four Toyota ambassadors and Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes: cyclist Laura Kenny, sport climber Shauna Coxsey, sprinter Jonnie Peacock and swimmer Alice Tai. The light-hearted storyline shows them being sent an HSR to help with their training for Tokyo 2020, but instead of taking advantage of the advanced robot’s full capabilities, they put it to work doing daily chores, such as walking the dog, ironing and carrying shopping.

Laura Kenny commented: “Filming alongside a robot was definitely a new experience for me. We had a lot of fun on set with HSR and the robotics team. It is was amazing to get a glimpse of what a future with robots in the home might look like.”

The HSR is one of Toyota’s robotics concepts now under development as part of the company’s global mission to provide freedom of mobility for all. The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is taking the lead in developing advanced technologies that can provide practical help for elderly and disabled people and those recovering from illness or injury. With its highly manoeuvrable, compact, and lightweight cylindrical body and folding arm, the HSR can pick up objects up off the floor and take items from shelves, capabilities which could prove useful help with everyday tasks, for people whose mobility is limited through physical impairment or convalescence from injury or treatment.

The HSR is not on general sale to the public, but Toyota has been offering its HSR open innovation platform to research partners worldwide.  This is a perfect expression of how Toyota as a mobility company wants to make the freedom of movement and the opportunities that brings available to everyone in society.

The film is being shown in cinemas across the UK, on video-on-demand platforms, on social media channels and alongside Toyota’s sponsorship of Paralympic coverage on Channel 4between 16 July and the end of the Paralympic Games on 5 September. It was created by The&Partnership and produced by Mindseye under the direction of Jon Barber, with post-production work handled by Coffee&TV.

ENDS