The torch relay has been considered one of the traditions of the Olympics. There are some especially selected people and personalities carry the flame from Olympia, Greece to the location of the Olympic Games. Pyeongchang, South Korea will host the 2018 Olympic Games and the torch relay is now its underway. It is for the first time that HUBO (humanoid robot) carried the flame for part of its journey earlier this week. The HUBO covered just 150 meters (about 500 feet) with the torch. Its presence has been considered symbolic as performing its torch duty. The HUBO also performed a disaster rescue operation in which it made a hole in a brick wall during holding the torch.
The President of PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee, LEE Hee-beom said that it was especially designed as a display of innovation and creativity. Hee-beom added that it’s a little bit silly, especially considering it was largely a stunt. He said that it doesn’t change the fact that HUBO is the first humanoid robot made by South Korea and it accomplished its tasks more efficiently. It has 2 articulated hands and has the ability to walk 65 steps per minute. It has been especially designed as a first-responder robot, hence the display of its abilities. It will be more interesting to discover how it develops from here, but currently, we can confirm that HUBO is quite more efficient and has the capabilities to participate in at least stunt demonstrations.