The student research team HERMES of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Thessaly successfully participated in the 1st International Humanoid Olympiad, held at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia (August 29 – September 2, 2025). The event, organized by Acumino in collaboration with Endeavor Greece, was a pioneering international forum dedicated to humanoid systems and Physical AI, bringing together researchers, academics, and industry professionals in a multifaceted program of presentations, demonstrations, and interactive workshops.

The HERMES Team presented a workshop titled:
“Research & Development of Robotic Exoskeleton System” (August 30, 11:00).
During the session, the team showcased the architecture of their exoskeleton system, the main technical challenges, and the implementation choices they followed. Participants also had the opportunity to explore the team’s robotic exoskeleton both during the presentation and at the exhibition booth. The live demonstration allowed direct observation of functional features and comparative assessment against similar international approaches.

At a technical level, the Olympiad highlighted the existing gap between advances in algorithms and artificial intelligence and the ability of systems to perform reliably and reproducibly in real-world conditions. Special emphasis was placed on the need for more complete and higher-quality motion data, increased mechanical robustness, and optimization of low-latency control strategies. The discussions and practical demonstrations provided the team with valuable insights for further improvements, which will be immediately integrated into their research program.

The participation also proved highly fruitful in terms of networking, as the team established connections with leading research groups and companies, paving the way for future collaborations. At the same time, the international exposure of the event strengthened the University of Thessaly’s presence in the field of robotics, highlighting the high-level work produced at the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering.

Overall, the HERMES Team evaluates its participation in the 1st International Humanoid Olympiad as a strategically beneficial experience that confirmed its technical choices, revealed new priorities, and significantly enhanced its collaboration network.