Robotics, Automation, and the Future of Sports

This chapter explores the growing influence of robotics and automation on sports and potential resultant future states. In this chapter, Siegel and Morris describe advances leading to broader deployment of robotics and automation and envision how these technologies may lead to new models for spectator experience by increasing engagement and interactivity. Next, they consider how robotics and automation create opportunities for improved athlete training and detail how robotics and automation have augmented sports by allowing new athletes to compete, creating new sports, and providing a playing field for intellectual athletes. Finally, they envision possible future evolutions of sports leveraging robotic advances and present a case study on how robotics might impact motorsport, closing by considering potential non-technical challenges and risks in inviting robots into sport.